Kai Agyepong

• YOUR report and Comment on the arrest of a 12 year old in Somers Town last summer were really helpful in identifying a real problem in the corporate culture of the Met police, (Police ordered to look again at armed arrest of 12-year-old boy over toy gun and Deeper look at gun arrest would be helpful for all).

Clearly this case raised huge questions about the approach the Met took. Instead of acknowledging the concerns and at least giving the appearance of wanting to learn lessons from a case with serious child safeguarding implications, as you rightly identify, the Met has retreated into its usual defensive positions pulling up the drawbridges and circling the wagons.

I would love to say this is an isolated incident but this is pretty standard stuff when it comes to the Metropolitan Police Service and it is genuinely hurting community relations in our borough and our city.

The Met need a period of serious introspection not just on race (which they have huge difficulties in even discussing) but around their corporate culture.

At the Camden Safer Neighbourhood Board we are keen to help facilitate these discussions in our borough with our local communities.

MARK BLAKE
Project Manager
Camden Safer Neighbourhood Board