No charges over N-word allegation

The Crown Prosecution Service was under pressure last night to explain why it chose not to press charges after an arrested man was allegedly told by a policeman that he would "always be a nigger".

A CPS spokesman said it had received a letter from the complainant's solicitor asking it to explain its decision, and would review an alleged recording of three police officers with the 21-year-old man. On the audio, one of the officers is heard to say: "The problem with you is you will always be a nigger, yeah? ... You'll always have black skin colour. Don't hide behind your colour... Don't hide behind your black skin."

PC Alex MacFarlane was suspended after the letter was received. The Independent Police Complaints Commission will also reopen its investigation into the matter.