London Mayoral hustings: Policing dominates debate

London’s Black communities left the Mayoral candidates with no doubt what area of governance needed radical change: Policing; particularly, Black deaths in custody; disproportionate levels of Stop and Search; and growing levels of racism recently exposed within the Metropolitan police.

The Black Britain Decides event, organised by Church leaders and Operation Black Vote had a global audience of millions thanks to the excellent coverage of OH TV, including the 500-600 who turned up on the night, and hundreds engaging on Twitter.

The political candidates acutely aware that the Black vote could be the deciding factor in this very tight contest responded accordingly.

Conservative candidate Boris Johnson seemed visible shocked by the number of Black men who had died in police custody, ‘I had no idea that the levels were so high’, he said, ‘if I’m re-elected, I will instigate a full inquiry into these deaths’. Johnson also added that he had written to the Home Secretary about pursuing the other men who were involved in the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Former Mayor, Ken Livingstone poured scorn on Johnson’s record of engagement with the Black community, highlighting that in the, ‘Conservative candidate's manifesto, he does not mention Black communities once, except when he is talking about crime’.

Green candidate Jenny Jones told the vibrant audience that, ‘cameras in police vans would eliminate the racism that we know goes on’.

Liberal Democrat candidate and the former police superintendent Brian Paddick seemed most in tune with the audience’s mood in regards policing. ‘I’ve been arguing for a very long time the need to dramatically cut the levels of Stop and Search towards young Black men. It’s not effective and it alienates the community’, he stated to cheers from the audience.

However, policing was not the only issue on the agenda. All the candidates agreed to my suggestion that they would raise 10 million from the Bankers to put into after-school clubs and business hubs run by faith groups and community centres. The high cost of child care too was an area that was blighting Black families from getting out of poverty.

It was not an easy event to put together, particularly in such a short space of time, but I for one am pleased that it occurred. The candidates, in no small measure, were held to account and began at least to respond to the concerns of Black Londoners. Not unlike myself, Bishop Wayne Malcolm told the audience that the key to the evening was not the candidates but an empowered Black community which would engage today, voting day and thereafter. My own articulation was a little cruder: ‘Don’t trust politicians,' I said, ‘trust yourselves'. This was a robust conversation for an empowered black community. But it’s not about the candidates – this is about our community being strong together.’

Lastly, if you haven’t already registered to vote you still have two days.

Here's how: www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/

Simon Woolley