Shrewsbury Lie Detector Test Stops Racism in its Tracks
Parents worked together to stop racism in its tracks with a Shrewsbury lie detector test, when their teenagers got into a fight.
Hadiza and Jemima´s Case
Jemima and Hadiza were neighbours and lifelong friends. They had gone to school and grown up together. Both had attended each other’s weddings and Jemima comforted Hadiza when her husband ran off with another woman, leaving Hadiza with three young sons.
Omari, the eldest of Hadiza’s sons, was almost the same age as Jason, Jemima’s son. The two boys were inseparable until they got to around 14. Omari became involved with a gang and because Jason wasn’t of African heritage he was excluded.
Jason’s father, Chris, tried to provide the male role model that Omari was sadly lacking, but as soon as he joined the gang he stopped going to Chris with his problems. Hadiza struggled to control her son´s behaviour.
Unexplained injuries
When Jason came home with a black eye one day, he told his parents that he had dropped something under his desk and knocked it on the corner of the desk as he went to retrieve it. This didn’t seem very plausible, but they let it go.
A week later when Jason was coming out of the bathroom, Chris noticed a massive bruise on his shoulder. Following him into his bedroom, Chris asked where he had got it. Taken by surprise, Jason stuttered that he didn’t know and must have walked into something. The towel, that would normally be around his waist was much higher up and slipped slightly to reveal more bruises. Chris turned his son round and noticed bruises around his ribs too. Jason was clearly in pain when he moved. No amount of coaxing would get the truth out of him as to how he had sustained these injuries.
In consultation with Jemima, it was decided Jason needed to go to A & E. An examination and x ray revealed that two ribs were broken. Â The boy had been beaten up badly.
Social services
Within 24 hours of the hospital visit, social services turned up at Jemima´s home. The hospital doctor was concerned about Jason’s injuries and had notified the authorities of “suspected child abuse”.
It took more than two hours for Jason to finally admit what had happened to him. Omari, to prove himself to his gang, had been tasked with beating up his friend. During the beating the gang chanted “kick his white privilege out of him” and other racial slurs. They had threatened to kill him if he told anyone.
Parents´ meeting
Jemima called Hadiza and invited her round for coffee. She didn’t know how her friend would react when confronted with what Jason had said.
Hadiza was horrified and didn’t disbelieve what Jason said. Apparently since joining the gang Omari’s behaviour had been more aggressive and rebellious. She was at a loss as to how to control him. His truancy from school had escalated and the authorities were threatening to fine her, something she could ill afford.
Chris agreed to have a word with Omari and accompanied Hadiza home. Omari was in his room playing computer games when Chris interrupted him. Having related Jason’s allegations to him, Omari said Jason was lying. He denied ever laying a finger on Jason.
Shrewsbury lie detector test
Chris and Jemima told Hadiza that they were going to book a Shrewsbury lie detector test for Jason. Hadiza said she would do the same for Omari but couldn’t afford it. Chris offered to pay for Omari’s test.
Our West Midlands polygraph examiner found no deception in Jason’s test results. But Omari’s were littered with deception. The reports were available within 24 hours and both families arranged to meet with the boys to discuss them.
White privilege and racism
Despite the test results Omari continued to deny that he had assaulted Jason. Since Jason’s test results showed no deception, logically he was telling the truth.
Omari then became abusive. His resentment toward Chris, Jemima and Jason became apparent. Omari had no contact with his father, and it was clear how privileged Jason was. He knew that white people were racist, he watched the news. His teachers told him white people were racist and the gang supported BLM so was everyone lying to him? Why shouldn’t he beat up white people if he wanted to. The gang told him that nothing would happen to him because the police were afraid to prosecute black people. Let’s face it, he said, they would be racist if they did.
Conclusion
Jemima and Hadiza decided to home school their children together. They are giving the boys a more balanced education and Chris is playing a much greater role in Omari’s life. With a balance of discipline and reward for good behaviour, slowly Omari´s attitude is improving. The lie detector test in Shrewsbury was the vehicle for change and we hope that Omari’s future is now brighter.
