White man's assault case dropped, two-tier policing concerns raised
A white man who was arrested after being assaulted by two black men had his case dropped, sparking concerns about two-tier policing.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A 20-year-old white man who was arrested after being assaulted by two black men in Birmingham has had his case dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, prompting renewed concerns about two-tier policing. The incident took place on 21 June in Birmingham. Cody Harper was charged with assaulting a police officer after video footage showed him being punched and then, as he staggered, making contact with a female officer. The CPS said it had reviewed all the evidence, including the video, and concluded there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Harper for assaulting an emergency worker. Proceedings were stopped and both Harper and the complainant were informed. West Midlands Police defended the arrest, saying it was lawful and came after a police officer was hit while carrying out her duties. The force added that it had since identified the two men who attacked Harper. They were interviewed under caution but were not charged with any assault. Instead, they received out-of-court disposals, a pre-charge resolution used for low-level first-time offences. The case has sparked debate about whether police and prosecutors apply different standards depending on the ethnicity of those involved. Critics argue that the decision to charge Harper while the men who attacked him were given non-court disposals suggests a bias. Supporters of the police say the officer may have arrived after the initial assault and acted on what she saw. Harper's supporters have called for an explanation and possible legal action against the arresting officer.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | GB News |
|---|---|
| Cody Harper was arrested after being attacked; the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case due to insufficient evidence; West Midlands Police said the arrest was lawful and the attackers received out-of-court disposals. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
GB News focused heavily on the two-tier policing angle, framing the case as an example of police targeting a white victim while letting the actual attackers off lightly. The presenters expressed strong criticism of the police and CPS, suggesting the arrest was wrongful and that the officer should face disciplinary action or even criminal charges. The tone was indignant and accusatory, with little sympathy for the police perspective.
- “I think that is exactly what happened there.”
- “If I was this chap, I'd set up a crowd funder and I'd sue that police officer for wrongful arrest.”
- “It's just another case, then, of a group of people, the police go, and their immediate judgment is to go for the white lad.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.