Institutional Racism in the UK's Policing System
This event has been organised by the Oxford Law Black Alumni Network (OLBA Network) in partnership with the Faculty to mark Stephen Lawrence Day 2022 (April 22).
Stephen was a black teenager who was murdered by a group of white youths on April 22, 1993, aged 18, in an unprovoked racist attack. After the initial police investigation, five suspects were arrested but not convicted. A public inquiry into the handling of Stephen’s case was held in 1998, leading to the publication of the Macpherson Report, which has been called ‘one of the most important moments in the modern history of criminal justice in Britain’. It led to profound cultural changes in attitudes to racism, the law and to police practice. It also paved the way for a greater understanding of discrimination of all forms and new equalities legislation.
We have a stellar panel joining us to discuss the theme of Institutional Racism in the UK's Policing System, drawing on their work in this field. Please join us online. There will then be an opportunity for discussion and Q&A at the end.
Speakers
Deborah Coles
Deborah Coles is the executive director of leading human rights charity INQUEST. She has a long track record of championing social justice and equality issues. She leads INQUEST's strategic policy, legal and parliamentary work and has considerable expertise in working to prevent death and ill treatment in all forms of detention and for more effective accountable learning after state related deaths. She has been an independent expert advisor to numerous committees and inquiries and was the special advisor to Dame Elish Angiolini, the chair of the Independent Review of Deaths and Serious Incidents in Police Custody. She is a regular media commentator, delivers conference papers nationally and internationally and is the author of numerous articles and publications. Deborah represents INQUEST as a member of the Ministerial Board on Deaths in Custody and is a member of the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody; she is also on the board of trustees of Clean Break Theatre Company and an advisor to Women in Prison.
Dr Leroy Logan MBE
Dr Leroy Logan MBE is a former superintendent of the Metropolitan police. He retired in 2013 after 30 years of service. He is also a former chair and founding member of the Black Police Association. Leroy is one of the UK’s most highly decorated and well known black police officers. A highly respected and well regarded commentator on policing in black communities, he believes that there is still much work to do in creating a more equitable and fair criminal justice system. Since his retirement, Leroy has built a reputation as a go-to person expert, using his decades of experience to give insightful, critical analyses of current events surrounding our justice system. His autobiography, Closing Ranks, was published in 2020 by SPCK.
Kevin Maxwell MBE
Kevin Maxwell MBE is a writer and advocate for social justice and equality with an initial focus on race, sexuality and mental health and now, housing and homelessness. He began writing with a blog followed by opinion pieces for newspapers and magazines including, the Independent and the Guardian and appeared on television and radio for the BBC and Sky News. He served as a detective with both the Greater Manchester Police and London’s Metropolitan Police. Granta published his debut book Forced Out about his time on the Force for which he was awarded an MBE for services to diversity through literature in the Queen’s birthday honours and shortlisted for the Polari Prize. He holds a Master’s in Writing from Regent’s University and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Chair
Sfiso Benard Nxumalo
Sfiso is a DPhil Candidate at the University of Oxford, and his research concerns the development of an African jurisprudence towards human rights and establishing a bill of duties. He holds an LLB degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and a BCL degree from the University of Oxford. He worked at Bowmans Inc as a candidate attorney and as a law clerk at the South African Constitutional Court, working under Justice Khampepe and Justice Majiedt. He is also a Constitutional Court Ismail Mohamed fellow and a Chevening scholar. He is broadly interested in private law, property law, constitutional law and administrative law.
