Newport man banned from Morrisons after racism row's memoir

South Wales Argus

30-04-2025

Jez Daniels, a black former officer, says he was the victim of "racial prejudice" during a visit to the Rogerstone store in Newport in February 2022.
During the visit, Mr Daniels, who was wearing a facemask as was required by law at the time, says he was followed by staff after heading directly to the alcohol aisle.
Jez Daniels maintains his belief that he was racially profiled in Morrisons, Rogerstone in 2022 (Image: Supplied) Feeling uncomfortable, he abandoned his items in the middle of the store and made to leave, but was confronted by the duty manager who accused him of trying to shoplift, and demanded he "get out".
After complaining to Morrisons head office, which prompted a wider investigation, Mr Daniels was banned from all Morrisons in the UK, with the giant insisting he had been "acting suspiciously" and was banned as "a duty of care" to their staff.
The ban was later lifted by a Morrisons chief, as "a gesture of good will" who maintained that they had acted correctly for the safety of staff and had been right to "take action".
Mr Daniels says the supermarket claimed he had tried to steal £200 worth of products (Image: Supplied) Using his knowledge as an ex-officer and now IT security consultant, Mr Daniels made a GDPR request for the CCTV footage and statements from staff about the incident, which he said "contradicted each other".
Mr Daniels previously explained that the statements given by the store claimed he had attempted to steal £200 worth of products, but was not shown any CCTV to back up this claim.
He maintains that he was "racially profiled" and the claim was made because they were "scared of me because I was a black man".
Morrisons did not respond to a request for comment at the time from the Argus.
Now, after this and numerous other experiences, Mr Daniels has written a memoir detailing his accounts of racism in the UK.
Mr Daniels has now penned a powerful memoir on his experiences of racism in the UK (Image: Supplied)
The memoir, titled Marked by Difference: A Personal Story of Facing Racism in the UK's Police, Fire Service, and Society, has just been released.
The book is an account of Mr Daniels' lived experience navigating institutional racism within some of the UK's most respected public services.
Through candid storytelling, the book exposes the structural inequalities and cultural barriers faced by ethnic minority individuals working within the police and fire services.
From confronting covert discrimination to speaking out against overt acts of injustice, Marked by Difference challenges readers to reflect on their own perceptions and to engage with the urgent need for cultural reform.
It is both a call to action and a beacon of hope for those still fighting for equality and recognition.
Independently published, Marked by Difference is now available in paperback and digital formats via Amazon, Waterstones Online, and selected local bookshops.
Mr Daniels is a former police officer and currently works as a cyber security consultant (Image: Supplied) Mr Daniels is a former police officer and firefighter, who has also served in the Royal Air Force.
In his current career he is a cyber security consultant.
With decades of first-hand experience and a passion for social justice, he brings a unique and courageous voice to the national conversation on race, identity, and institutional accountability in Britain.