Bijan Ebrahimi suffered 'years of discrimination from police'
Police in Bristol subjected a disabled refugee to at least seven years of discrimination before his brutal murder, a new report has concluded.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission found 44-year-old Iranian man Bijan Ebrahimi made more than 100 calls for help to police, sometimes fearing for his life.
But his pleas went largely ignored - even up until a hour before he was beaten to death and set alight by his neighbour in July 2013, after he was wrongly accused of being a paedophile.
Avon & Somerset Police say they accept the findings of the police watchdog and have apologised unreservedly to the victim's family.
In 73 of the calls Mr Ebrahimi reported crimes including racial abuse, criminal damage and threats to kill, but police failed to record a crime on at least 40 times.
Bristol-based anti-racism and equality campaign group SARI says that agencies did not fulfil their duties.
A police sergeant and a PCSO were jailed for misconduct in public office and dismissed along with two PCs.
Lessons have been learnt according to the highest-ranking officer at Avon and Somerset and the Police and Crime Commissioner, who adds that changes have been made in the wake of Bijan's death.
Police & Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens told ITV News she was concerned by the length of time it has taken for the IPCC report to be made public.
She added: "Over the past four-years I am satisfied that the Constabulary has recognised the mistakes that were made and put in place wide-reaching changes which are already embedded today. As residents would expect protecting our most vulnerable people from harm is given the highest priority within Avon and Somerset. I am determined that we never see a repeat of this appalling collective failure again."
Following the IPCC report, the force says it will do everything in its power to make sure there will not be a repeat of the circumstances that led to Bijan Ebrahimi's death.