Trainee police officer 'suffered racism' - inquest

Anugrah Abraham died in March 2023

A trainee police officer suffered bullying and racism before his death, his father has told an inquest.

Anugrah Abraham, from Bury in Greater Manchester, feared he would lose his job and suffered from nightmares in which his station sergeant was sat on his chest strangling him, Rochdale Coroners Court heard.

The 21-year-old, who was known as Anu to his friends and family, was a student at Leeds Trinity University and was training to become a police officer in Halifax at the time of his death in March 2023.

The claims, made by his father Amar Abraham at the hearing, were not accepted by West Yorkshire Police (WYP), a lawyer for the force said.

His parents told the inquest their son had wanted to work in the forces since he was a child.

Mr Abraham said his son applied to join the police in October 2021, but his problems began after April 2022 when he was posted to Halifax police station.

Mr Abraham, known as Anu to his family and friends, had childhood ambitions of working in the police, the inquest was told

Wiping away tears, Mr Abraham said: "He mentioned there is a bullying and racism culture there, 'My sergeant used to bully me a lot, even if I do correct'. He was completely lost, really.

"We loved him so much. The last days before he took his own life he mentioned, 'I can't take it, so much pressure on me. There's no support from anywhere'."

Mr Abraham said, "initially" his son was confident but admitted he was "fearful" of his son joining the force, adding: "It's a very challenging job."

His father added: "He always said nobody came to me and said, 'Well done boy'. He was always criticised."

'So scared'

Senior coroner Joanne Kearsley said records showed officers had on occasion told the young recruit he had done a good job.

Mr Abraham had visited his doctor in June 2022 suffering from low moods, stress and anxiety though did not identify any "triggers" for his feelings.

By March 2023 he had been unhappy for six months since being posted to Halifax, the inquest heard, and he told his father he was suffering nightmares.

"He felt that his Sgt was the weight sitting on his chest trying to strangle him," Mr Abraham said.

"I think he was so scared. I don't know what was going on in the police station."

On 3 March last year, one day before he was due back in work, he spent time applying for jobs before leaving the family home.

He was found dead in woodland nearby the next day.

Hugh Davies, representing West Yorkshire Police, listed the support the young officer had received, including from his Sgt and colleagues.

He also had an assessor and a mentor and was referred to occupational health as well as a counsellor, it was said.

Mr Davies added that while in the force, the officer's dyslexia was spotted for the first time and he received help with that.

The inquest, scheduled to last three weeks, continues.

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