I spoke during the Home Office Statement on police accountability mechanisms in the aftermath of the acquittal of the officer who shot Chris Kaba. I highlighted the impact this incident had on our wider community and the longstanding issues with trust in policing. Lambeth has consistently seen some of the lowest levels of confidence in policing of any London borough – particularly within the Black community.

I made it clear that whilst police officers work under exceptional pressures, any loss of life following police contact must still be properly investigated. I also pushed back against suggestions from some in the Met that officers involved in fatal shootings should be exempted from facing criminal charges. If we are going to ensure police are able to do their jobs safely with the confidence of the communities they serve, we need more accountability, not less.