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Police have launched an internal investigation after an innocent black teenager was held for FIFTEEN HOURS on suspicion of robbery – despite having a cast-iron alibi.

Talented musician Shakeil Jackson, 19, was inside Thornhill Road police station reporting the theft of his own motorcycle at the time the phone robber struck.

Yet despite protesting his innocence the teenager, from Handsworth, was arrested, locked up overnight and only released when officers finally confirmed his alibi with colleagues.

The force has now promised a “full and thorough investigation” but also publicly refuted claims of ‘wrongful arrest’ or ‘racial profiling’.

Shakeil, a self-taught pianist, reported the theft of his motorbike from outside his home on August 6.

But hours later, at around 6.30pm, he was surrounded by officers on Hollyhead Road following the street robbery of a mobile phone.

He said: “I repeatedly told the police officers to check Thornhill Road CCTV because that would confirm my whereabouts. I was angry, humiliated and confused.”

The teenager was taken into custody but detectives only interviewed him the following morning, when he was released without charge.

Birmingham community worker Desmond Jaddoo has taken up Shakeil’s case and lodged a complaint with the force on his behalf.

He said: “Yet again this is another case of West Midlands Police getting it totally wrong with a young black man. He was detained for some 15 hours, which was totally unnecessary. Ironically it was West Midlands Police that confirmed a rock-solid alibi.

“I have now received confirmation to say an internal investigation has been launched following my complaint.”

The force has said an internal investigation was under way after receiving a complaint from a ‘third party’.

But Chief Superintendent Clive Burgess said: “It is extremely disappointing some people are suggesting ethnicity was a factor – police officers were responding to witness accounts suggesting Mr Jackson was responsible for the theft.

“Our enquiries showed this was not the case and we apologise for any inconvenience caused to Mr Jackson – I hope he understands officers were merely acting on information supplied by a victim and witnesses.

“As part of the investigation we needed to identify and analyse CCTV from Thornhill Road police station where Mr Jackson said he was at around the time of the robbery.

‘‘We were able to confirm this although the exact timings of his visit to the police station meant it could not alone be used as an irrefutable alibi.

“To date we have not received a complaint from Mr Jackson; naturally we are keen to speak to him in order to establish the precise nature of his concerns.

“We take complaints of police conduct very seriously... this matter will be looked into by our Professional Standards Department where a thorough investigation will be conducted.”