In November 2019, whilst going for a late night jog near Museum Square - across the road from Bethnal Green police station - Nikki [a nickname among friends, real name withheld], a (then) 17 year old trans woman was sexually assaulted by policeman PC Ryan Byrne.

Nikki, now 21 years old claims that night will haunt her forever and that she still has nightmares seeing PC Ryan Byrne’s face as he forced her into a quiet, secluded spot near Bethnal Green police station hidden among some trees away from the view of the general public as he forcibly stopped and searched her claiming that she matched the description of someone they were looking for.

Years earlier, before she transitioned, when Nikki was 14, she had been stopped and searched by policemen from Bethnal Green police station whilst on her way home from school. She claims that the policemen had used the same excuse, but says she knows that the only “matching description” they were in fact looking for was a young black male. Nikki says that she believed that transitioning to a women and going through hormone therapy would bring it’s own challenges and even its own form of discrimination, but never thought she would still be brought back to the point of being that marginalised 14 year old black male. “I still had this naive idea that maybe I would be at least treated differently… like a woman… not that it can’t happen to women… but, you know, just not as aggressively or as violently. And definitely not being stopped and searched at random by racist policemen like PC [Ryan] Byrne”.

PC Ryan Byrne carried out sexually devious acts on Nikki for what she claims “felt like an hour” but was probably a little over 15 Minutes. During this time PC Ryan Byrne put his left hand down Nikki’s pants and started stroking her private parts and then asked “you like that?”. PC Ryan Byrne then insisted on driving her home, claiming “it’s a bit late for a girl like you to be out on the streets at this time of night”. Nikki says that the fact that PC Ryan Byrne knowing where she lives is the reason she was so terrified that she decided to move out of her parents’ place 6 months later; fearing that he might return.

The details of the sexual assault that occurred that day are far too gruesome to repeat in this petition and has left Nikki mentally scarred. It was only more than a year after the event that Nikki had worked up the courage to report the incident. She attempted to do so at a different police station in a different borough but was told that she had to file a report within her own borough. She then decided to report it at Bethnal Green police station thinking that maybe she would receive support from more noble policemen only to be told by a policeman at reception that it was “highly unfortunate” that she was “gratuitously fondled” by a policeman.

As you can see in this BBC article below from 2022, Bethnal Green police station is no stranger to lewd and morally depraved behaviour against civilians. Here is the article:

(https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-60388676.amp)

It is four years later, and Nikki has not yet had any justice. She has now worked up the courage to pursue a lawsuit against PC Ryan Byrne and Bethnal Green police station. She is, however, still traumatised and afraid to speak publicly about her ordeal. As her friends, we want to approach all LGBTQ rights groups and ask for your help in making as much noise as possible and help us raise awareness. During the sexual assault, PC Ryan Byrne threatened to harm her if she said anything to anyone. Nikki did not have a chance to see a name badge or a number. Under that alarm and distress, how could you? It was only just last year, through painstaking effort that she was able to get a name. PC Ryan Byrne. Nikki claims that she has seen PC Ryan Byrne around Bethnal Green on a handful of occasions and on every one, claims she gets “Paralysed with fear”.

Let’s stand up to racist, transphobic bullies and sexual predators like PC Ryan Byrne and show that they cannot get away with these acts of transphobic, racist violence! Not on the LGBTQ community or ANYONE else! Make noise! Message your local MPs, share this petition, message Bethnal Green police station and demand answers!

Yes, with the help of her friends we have managed to make some progress, including a name and some helpful contacts. Imagine what we could achieve if we all raise awareness of this case so that Nikki can divulge the details of the atrocious and despicable crime that occurred in November 2019 to her.

So, please sign the petition! Share it! Make some noise! Let’s send a strong message to racist bullies and and sexual predators like PC Ryan Byrne!

Thank you for reading,

Nikki’s Friends