Black rights charity that claimed gangster Chris Kaba was victim of 'racist state violence' could face regulator probe

In South London, the Runnymede Trust, a black rights charity, has come under scrutiny after criticizing the legal system following the not-guilty verdict for Sergeant Martyn Blake, who was acquitted of murdering Chris Kaba in 2022. The trust expressed regret for their comments regarding 'racist state violence', which they later deleted. Conservative politician Robert Jenrick called for an investigation by the Charity Commission into the trust, claiming that it is a harmful organization. The Charity Commission is already assessing concerns raised about the posts made by the trust, stating they are examining their compliance with regulations. The trust defended its view by indicating that their posts were intended to highlight the systemic injustices faced by Black individuals within law enforcement, citing statistics that reveal a disproportionate number of deaths of people of color due to police actions. Despite this, they acknowledged that their messaging was poorly communicated, attributing their failure to the limitations of social media formats. They also reiterated that a significant issue remains regarding racism in policing. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) stated that their referral of the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was based on a thorough evidence review, while CPS maintained that the decision to prosecute is determined by the available evidence aligning with prosecutorial standards. This situation highlights the ongoing tensions in discussions about policing and race relations in the UK. In a recent House of Commons session, a Labour MP addressed the House, offering condolences to Kaba's family and emphasizing the broader issues of over-policing in Black communities, further illuminating the societal discourse surrounding these events.