Remembering Chris Kaba, One Year On

Sep 6, 2023 | Campaigns

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The fatal police shooting of Chris Kaba a year ago this week sent shockwaves through our community. On the 5th September, the vehicle he was driving was brought to a forced stop by police on Kirkstall Gardens, a quiet residential road in the heart of our constituency, where he was shot in the head through the front windscreen.

Earlier this year, his death was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision. But months later, his family are still waiting for the outcome of this decision. On the anniversary of his death, his family reiterated their dignified and restrained plea for truth, accountability, and justice. These things should be hardwired into policing; but they are not.

I hosted a parliamentary event for the Kaba family and other campaigners involved in the long struggle for justice this week. We remembered Chris and the 1,869 others who died in police custody or after contact with the police since 1990. Just one police officer has been successfully prosecuted.