Sir Mark Rowley, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, has criticized “those in positions of authority” for fueling what he described as a “dangerous narrative” regarding the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba, a Black Londoner, by a police officer in 2022. Speaking at an event hosted by the charity Crimestoppers, Rowley condemned the focus on Kaba’s ethnicity in the aftermath of the shooting, saying it had led to “rumour and innuendo” that could undermine public trust in the justice system and embolden those who work against the public good.
The shooting of Chris Kaba, which occurred in South London in September 2022, has sparked widespread debate and protests, particularly around the issue of police racism and accountability. Prominent figures, including Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Kim Johnson, as well as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, have called for “justice for Chris Kaba” and raised concerns about the role of racial bias in the police’s actions.
Sir Mark Rowley, however, argued that the focus on Kaba’s ethnicity detracted from the key legal questions surrounding the case. “From the outset over the last two years, the majority of the conversation online focused entirely on Chris Kaba’s ethnicity,” he said. “Rumour and innuendo fuelled a quite dangerous narrative about supposed facts that were detached from the evidence presented to court and the verdict delivered by 12 Londoners recently.”
He pointed to the legal outcome of the case, where police firearms officer Martyn Blake was acquitted of murder following a trial at the Old Bailey. The jury concluded that Blake had acted in self-defense, fearing for his life after Kaba’s car attempted to flee during a police stop. Despite the court’s ruling, Rowley suggested that the intense public focus on Kaba’s race could have contributed to a misrepresentation of the facts.
The shooting itself occurred after police had been following Kaba’s vehicle, which they believed had been linked to previous incidents. Kaba’s car was reportedly driven in a way that appeared to be an attempt to escape the police, leading Blake to fire a single shot that killed him. While Kaba was unarmed, the officer’s defense was based on the belief that the car posed a threat to his life and the safety of others.
In the aftermath, the case sparked protests and widespread public outcry. Prominent figures like Corbyn and rapper Stormzy attended protests, with Corbyn calling for justice and Stormzy accusing the police of getting away with murder. Labour MP Diane Abbott also wrote that Kaba’s death was a symptom of the broader issue of systemic racism and the treatment of Black people in Britain.
The Runnymede Trust, a charity focused on racial equality, also criticized the legal system for what it described as a failure to deliver real justice for families affected by “racist state violence.” However, the charity later removed a tweet that implied bias in the legal proceedings, following the revelation of Kaba’s criminal history after the trial’s conclusion. Legal restrictions had prevented the media from reporting on Kaba’s past, including his involvement in a shooting prior to his death, until after the trial had ended.
Rowley, however, argued that the discussion surrounding Kaba’s death had been too focused on race, when the core issue should have been whether Blake was legally justified in his actions. He did acknowledge, however, that there is an ongoing national conversation about racial disproportionality in policing, pointing to data showing that young Black men in London are 13 times more likely to be murdered than their white counterparts.
While Rowley expressed support for reforming police accountability, including moves to grant anonymity to firearms officers facing serious criminal charges until convicted, he faced criticism from figures like Diane Abbott. Abbott, who had initially welcomed Rowley’s appointment as Commissioner as a potential “new broom” for the Metropolitan Police, accused him of continuing to support a “lack of police accountability” in cases like Kaba’s.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also weighed in on the controversy, stating that Kaba’s death had caused “anger, pain and fear” within London’s Black communities. Khan’s spokesperson emphasized that all deaths following police contact must be thoroughly investigated, which is what had occurred in this case. At the same time, Khan has shown continued support for the police and their challenging work under pressure.
As the fallout from the Chris Kaba shooting continues, the case has become a flashpoint in the debate over police accountability, racism, and the treatment of Black communities in the UK. The discussion also continues to highlight the difficult balance between ensuring trust in law enforcement while addressing concerns over systemic discrimination and the need for reform.