Top cop demoted after saying BMWs were 'black man's wheels'

A senior police officer has been demoted after referring to a model BMW car as 'black man's wheels'.

Former Superintendent Chris Pretty was given the toy by colleagues at a party for his send-off as head of training for West Midlands Police.

Two officers complained about his 'racist joke' and Mr Pretty, a respected officer who headed a crackdown on black-on-black crime, was hauled before a misconduct panel.

He was demoted by one rank to Chief Inspector after the hearing last week.

Anti-racism campaigners yesterday welcomed the result.

Bini Brown, from the African Caribbean Self Help Organisation in Birmingham said: 'These particular comments made by a high-ranking police officer merely add fuel to the myth that BMWs are only driven by black criminals.

'If West Midlands Police have seen fit to make an example of this officer and discipline him then I welcome that.

'But I think the problem of institutional racism within the police force is a deep-rooted one and reflected across society. It is not going to be conquered overnight.'

The leaving party was held in Edgbaston, Birmingham, in September last year as Mr Pretty transferred to neighbouring Coventry.

A source said: 'Chris collects model cars and he was given one as a leaving present.

'He was a former captain in the army and is into hunting and shooting, but toy cars are his main hobby.

'When he opened the miniature BMW he joked: "Oh, Black Man's Wheels".

'It was just a joke. Cops seem to spend more time investigating each other these days than they do catching criminals.

'It's a complete over-reaction. They're obviously more interested in political correctness than letting officers get on with the job of tackling crooks.'

Mr Pretty has been applauded by members of the city's black community in the past.

He once headed West Midlands Police's Operation Ventara, a unit investigating black-on-black crime, and was instrumental in bringing witnesses forward for murder cases. West Midlands Police initially referred the complaints about the BMW comment to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

But the watchdog said it was happy for the force to carry out its own investigation. A force spokesman said: 'He has been dealt with in the appropriate manner. West Midlands Police expects the highest standards of professionalism and integrity from all its officers and staff and has robust procedures in place to deal with behaviour which falls outside those standards.'