Today marks six years since the tragic death of Rashan Charles. Rashan’s death affected many people across Hackney and our thoughts - as they have been since that night - are with his family and friends at this difficult time. 

Rashan’s death was a tragedy that shook our communities and further highlighted how much needs to be done to deal with trust and confidence in policing and disproportionality. 

It is disappointing that in the six years since Rahsan’s death, there have been several tragic events of the same nature and we are still having the same conversations about disproportionality here in Hackney and beyond. 

We are committed to changing this and particularly welcome the progress made with the local police. I am also pleased to share the launch of a new community panel who will work together with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) to hold the police to account for their use of police powers, including stop and search, handcuffing, use of tasers and intimate searches. 

Following the most recent Child Q update report, it is also encouraging to know the local borough commander has accepted and welcomed the need for his officers to adopt a child-centred approach to policing, which he shared in his response to the report. 

“We never want to see the repeat of a tragedy like Rashan Charles again and therefore reiterate our calls to the very top of the Met Police to recognise and accept the flaws and racism embedded in the policing system. Real and lasting change will remain paralysed until this happens.