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

Black Police Association

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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https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/

#SomewhereToBelieveIn

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