Holly Bishop
Guest Reporter
A Labour MP has been slammed after accusing the media of poorly portraying known gang member Chris Kaba in the House of Commons today.
Kim Johnson, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, argued that there has been a focus on “racist gang tropes” when reporting on the case.
Kaba, 24, was shot through the front windscreen of an Audi Q8 in Streatham, south-east London, on September 5, 2022.
Martyn Blake, 40, the police firearms officer who fatally shot the 24-year-old, was found not guilty on Monday after a trial at the Old Bailey.
Yesterday, a judge ruled that details of Kaba’s criminal past could be released. It then came to light that Kaba was a “core member” of a prolific and brutal London gang.
CCTV footage was also released of the 24-year-old shooting a man on the dancefloor of Oval Space nightclub in Tower Hamlets, on August 30, 2022.
Discussing the Kaba case, Johnson told MPs: “I would like to send my condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Chris Kaba.
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“Particularly this week while the media are using racist gang tropes to justify the killing of Chris Kaba.”
Johnson also asked Yvette Cooper to pledge to protect black communities in the UK in the face of “over-policing”.
She said: “1,900 people have died in police custody since 1990. And I would say that the police do have protections, we know that our black communities are over policed and under-supported.
“So can the Home Secretary give us assurances we and our communities are kept safe and extra protections are not given to police because they already have protections they need.”
Following her comments, the Labour MP has faced criticism for her “disgraceful” stance online.
Dr Kieran Mullan, Conservative MP for Bexhill & Battle, said: “As I said in the chamber, it wasn't a trope. He was a gang member. Equally disgraceful for the local MP to describe him as a ‘well loved’ member of the community.”
Commentator Benedict Spence picked up on Johnson’s figure relating to police custody deaths. “Not a great stat, sure,” he said. “But Chris Kaba didn’t die in police custody, did he? He died trying to ram armed police officers with a car.”
“He chose to become a violent gang member and ram armed police officers with a car,” said Chris Rose.
“It’s not racist for the media to point this out,” he continued.
The vehicle Kaba was driving was blocked in by police at Kirkstall Gardens after an officer spotted its registration plate.
The 24-year-old repeatedly drove backwards and forwards in an attempt to break free, leading Blake to believe that one of his colleagues was in imminent danger of being killed, the court heard.
A fellow firearms officer, identified as DS87, testified that he would have taken the shot had Blake not done so.
Another officer, known as E156, stated he was "fractions of a second" away from firing as well.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is now set to review whether Blake should face disciplinary action.
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Kim Johnson, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, argued that there has been a focus on “racist gang tropes” when reporting on the case.
Kaba, 24, was shot through the front windscreen of an Audi Q8 in Streatham, south-east London, on September 5, 2022.
Martyn Blake, 40, the police firearms officer who fatally shot the 24-year-old, was found not guilty on Monday after a trial at the Old Bailey.
Yesterday, a judge ruled that details of Kaba’s criminal past could be released. It then came to light that Kaba was a “core member” of a prolific and brutal London gang.
CCTV footage was also released of the 24-year-old shooting a man on the dancefloor of Oval Space nightclub in Tower Hamlets, on August 30, 2022.
Discussing the Kaba case, Johnson told MPs: “I would like to send my condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Chris Kaba.
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“Particularly this week while the media are using racist gang tropes to justify the killing of Chris Kaba.”
Johnson also asked Yvette Cooper to pledge to protect black communities in the UK in the face of “over-policing”.
She said: “1,900 people have died in police custody since 1990. And I would say that the police do have protections, we know that our black communities are over policed and under-supported.
“So can the Home Secretary give us assurances we and our communities are kept safe and extra protections are not given to police because they already have protections they need.”
Following her comments, the Labour MP has faced criticism for her “disgraceful” stance online.
Dr Kieran Mullan, Conservative MP for Bexhill & Battle, said: “As I said in the chamber, it wasn't a trope. He was a gang member. Equally disgraceful for the local MP to describe him as a ‘well loved’ member of the community.”
Commentator Benedict Spence picked up on Johnson’s figure relating to police custody deaths. “Not a great stat, sure,” he said. “But Chris Kaba didn’t die in police custody, did he? He died trying to ram armed police officers with a car.”
“He chose to become a violent gang member and ram armed police officers with a car,” said Chris Rose.
“It’s not racist for the media to point this out,” he continued.
The vehicle Kaba was driving was blocked in by police at Kirkstall Gardens after an officer spotted its registration plate.
The 24-year-old repeatedly drove backwards and forwards in an attempt to break free, leading Blake to believe that one of his colleagues was in imminent danger of being killed, the court heard.
A fellow firearms officer, identified as DS87, testified that he would have taken the shot had Blake not done so.
Another officer, known as E156, stated he was "fractions of a second" away from firing as well.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is now set to review whether Blake should face disciplinary action.
Find Out More...