Welcome back to Somewhere To Believe In! We’re calling this series ‘Keeping the faith’ because this time around we’re having no-holds-barred conversations with people who get stuck in BECAUSE of what they believe.
Arguably, no one has done more to keep the faith than our first guest; former superintendent in the Met police, man-on-a-mission to change a racist police system from within, subject of one of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe films and general truth-to-power-speaker, Leroy Logan.
We talk about Leroy’s incredible life. From some of his formative years being spent as a young boy in Jamaica seeing Black people in positions of power to his short career in science and his ultimate ‘calling’ to the police force – a decision which resulted in him joining the ranks of the officers who beat-up his father, and a decades-long mission to call out toxic police culture and replace it with love, respect, service and care.
Plus, a lot has happened since we last had a podcast chat, so Katherine and Paul get us up-to-date on all things Greenbelt Festival, Prospect Farm and – most importantly – which lockdown hobbies have stuck and which haven’t.
Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.
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ABOUT LEROY LOGAN
Dr Leroy Logan MBE is a former superintendent in the Metropolitan police. He retired in 2013 after 30 years’ 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.
Website | Twitter | Book
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LINKS AND RESOURCES
Leroy Logan’s book ‘Closing Ranks: My Life as a Cop’
Small Axe: Red, White and Blue
Macpherson report: what was it and what impact did it have?
VOYAGE (Voice of the Youth and Genuine Empowerment) PROGRAMME
Damilola Taylor investigation and report
Stephen Lawrence Steering Group
Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities: The Report
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
Parm Sandhu speaking on Channel 4 News about racism in the MET
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00:00 – Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In
00:56 – Katherine and Paul catch up
04:25 – Katherine and Paul on cancelling Greenbelt Festival (again)
07:10 – Katherine and Paul on Prospect Farm
08:45 – Katherine and Paul on why we’re not doing a digital festival this year
09:44 – Introducing Leroy Logan
11:39 – Leroy joins the conversation
12:37 – Leroy on East London
13:16 – Leroy on moving to Jamaica
15:59 – Leroy on growing up
16:30 – Leroy on faith and policing
19:40 – Leroy on feeling called to join the police
22:30 – Leroy on hostile environments and standing up to make a difference
25:46 – Leroy on racist and toxic police culture
31:30 – Leroy on George Floyd and Derek Chauvin
37:48 – Leroy on reflecting, learning and improving
42:40 – Leroy on Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series
46:35 – Leroy on speaking for those who don’t have a voice
48:56 – Leroy on police and protest
53:03 – Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Leroy
59:52 – Katherine and Paul on protecting your right to protest
1:01:40 – Next week on the podcast
1:02:27 – How to get in touch with us
1:03:05 – Thank you’s
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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.
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#SomewhereToBelieveIn
