Overview

• Sir Mark Rowley said black boys in London are far more likely to die before 18 than white peers and labelled the disparity shameful for the city.
• The commissioner stressed that the Met’s history of excessive stop-and-search and force against black communities continues to erode trust.
• He reaffirmed a two-year, £366 million overhaul plan that prioritises neighbourhood policing and recruits additional community support and specialist protection officers.
• Rowley highlighted that black boys face school exclusion rates multiple times higher than white boys, underscoring broader socio-educational disadvantages.
• He warned the criminal justice system is close to breaking point and backed Sir Brian Leveson’s call for accelerated court reforms to prevent a revolving-door cycle.