Service with Leroy Logan

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.____ABOUT LEROY LOGANDr 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___LINKS AND RESOURCESLeroy Logan’s book ‘Closing Ranks: My Life as a Cop’Small Axe: Red, White and BlueBlack Police AssociationMacpherson report: what was it and what impact did it have?VOYAGE (Voice of the Youth and Genuine Empowerment) PROGRAMMEDamilola Taylor investigation and reportStephen Lawrence Steering GroupCommission on Race and Ethnic Disparities: The ReportPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts BillParm Sandhu speaking on Channel 4 News about racism in the MET____00:00 - Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In00:56 - Katherine and Paul catch up04:25 - Katherine and Paul on cancelling Greenbelt Festival (again)07:10 - Katherine and Paul on Prospect Farm08:45 - Katherine and Paul on why we’re not doing a digital festival this year09:44 - Introducing Leroy Logan11:39 - Leroy joins the conversation12:37 - Leroy on East London13:16 - Leroy on moving to Jamaica15:59 - Leroy on growing up16:30 - Leroy on faith and policing19:40 - Leroy on feeling called to join the police22:30 - Leroy on hostile environments and standing up to make a difference25:46 - Leroy on racist and toxic police culture31:30 - Leroy on George Floyd and Derek Chauvin37:48 - Leroy on reflecting, learning and improving42:40 - Leroy on Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series46:35 - Leroy on speaking for those who don’t have a voice48:56 - Leroy on police and protest53:03 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Leroy59:52 - Katherine and Paul on protecting your right to protest1:01:40 - Next week on the podcast1:02:27 - How to get in touch with us1:03:05 - Thank you’s____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.____https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/#SomewhereToBelieveIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.