Kate Osamor MP
Met Officers are not above the law The recent actions of some Met firearm officers, who refused to continue serving following the charging of a colleague in the murder of Chris Kaba, are deeply troubling. This ‘protest’ underscores the systemic issues within the Met’s Specialist Firearms Command, MO19, which have long been a cause for concern. Just six months ago, Baroness Casey’s review of the Met singled out MO19, describing a culture within it of elitism, bullying, racism, sexism, and ableism. MO19 appeared to operate in a way that exempted it from the standards and accountability that should apply to all police units. The report highlighted an unaccountable ‘clique’ that allowed misconduct and a disregard for rules to flourish. One particularly alarming aspect uncovered by the review is the notion of ‘colouring outside the lines’, a belief held by MO19 officers that they can bend or break the rules with impunity. This flagrant disregard for regulations has resulted in a culture of impunity where misconduct is tolerated. It’s no wonder that so many officers are outraged by the incredibly rare site of one of their own being held accountable for their actions. Furthermore, the review exposed deeply ingrained attitudes of misogyny and racism within MO19. A conclusion that won’t surprise most Londoners. Perhaps the most concerning revelation from the review is the existence of mechanisms designed to avoid accountability. The use of coded language in WhatsApp groups to signal the deletion of compromising content reflects a culture of secrecy that is incompatible with the principles of transparency and accountability that must underpin any police force. Six months after the release of the Casey Review, it is clear that MO19 has not made sufficient progress in addressing these deeply rooted problems. Instead of seeking accountability and reform, the recent ‘protest’ by some MO19 officers sends a troubling message. The response to that ‘protest’ is even more troubling. Rather than using this moment to push reform through and show that the Met can change, the Met Commissioner and Home Secretary have backed officers in their fight against accountability. Even at risk of prejudicing ongoing legal proceedings, the Home Secretary has instinctively sided with a corrupt, racist organisation resisting all attempts to change it. The Met Commissioner must seize this moment to prioritise comprehensive reform within MO19. This is not a time to yield to the demands of officers who believe they are above the law. Rather, it is an opportunity to reaffirm the core principles of accountability and transparency that are essential for public trust in the police. Officers who handed in their weapons should be sent packing. Londoners deserve a police force that serves them, rather than themselves.
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Rosebank Oil Field This week the Government gave the Rosebank oilfield the go ahead, a decision that is great news for a few oil companies and a disaster for the rest of us. Not only will taxpayers be subsidising the drilling to the tune of billions, but the oil extracted from it will then be sold on the open market meaning that it will do nothing to bring down bills for ordinary people. Some in Government have even suggested that it is somehow greener to drill oil closer to home as it won’t have to travel as far to get to us. Accept that’s not true either, as any oil extracted from Rosebank will need to be shipped halfway across the world to be refined before being sold on the open market. The majority owner of Rosebank is the Norwegian state oil company Equinor, meaning that the Government is asking UK Taxpayers to spend billions subsidising the energy prices of people in Norway. Most shocking of all, Rosebank will release the annual emissions of around 90 countries and 400 million people, producing more than 300 million barrels of oil and gas in its lifetime. Not only does this make a mockery of Tory claims that they are committed to reducing emissions, it also seriously damages any credibility the UK had as a climate crisis leader. Countries across the world need to take drastic action to reduce their emissions if we are to avoid climate catastrophe. How can we stand up on the world stage and call for that change when we are about to open an oil field that will produce the combined annual CO2 emissions of the 28 lowest-income countries in the world? Rosebank won’t just cost us billions and do nothing to bring down our bills, it will leave us voiceless on the world stage as the planet burns. |
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Millfield Arts Centre The Millfield Arts Centre in Silver Street is exactly the kind of community hub that communities are built around. Under normal circumstances they should be run for and by the public, with the Council protecting their use from greedy property developers. Unfortunately, after thirteen years of Tory cuts Enfield Council has been forced to lease out the arts centre to an external provider. This is a situation that I will be keeping a close eye on as I know how important Millfield Art Centre and its library are to the community. It’s good news that the Council have said they will ensure that its use as an arts centre and library will be protected, though the library may be moved to a different location on site. Whoever comes in to manage and run the site must respect that and protect the centre as a place of local cultural and historical significance. Too many community hubs have been lost over the last thirteen years of Conservative rule. We must do everything possible to protect what we have left. |
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Thank you for taking the time to read my latest update, if you have any issues that you would like to raise directly with me then please do email edmontonconstituency@parliament.uk . I’m always happy to help whenever possible. Kind regards, Kate Osamor Member of Parliament for Edmonton |