Closing Ranks: My Life as a Cop

Wednesday 10th May

Dr Leroy Logan MBE will discuss his book Closing Ranks: My Life as a Cop, which was portrayed in the 2020 BBC series “Small Axe”.

 

How can we improve relationships between the police and Britain’s minority ethnic communities? What can we change to create a more equitable and fair criminal justice system?

Dr Leroy Logan MBE, former superintendent in the Metropolitan police, will be speaking to these questions at the Intellectual Forum on 10 May. He will discuss his life, his work, and his book, Closing Ranks: My Life as a Cop.

‘I was amazed and intrigued by the way Leroy had stood his ground and progressed within the Metropolitan Police against so many obstacles: hostility, outright racism and being repeatedly overlooked for promotion.’ – Steve McQueen, Oscar Award-winning Director of ‘12 Years A Slave’ and ‘Widows’

About the speaker

Described by The Guardian as “the man who risked everything to fight racism in the police force – from within”, Dr Leroy Logan MBE is a former superintendent in the Metropolitan police. He retired in 2013 after 30 years exemplary service.

Born in London in 1957 to Jamaican parents, Leroy is an advocate for good relationships between the police and Britain’s minority ethnic communities, a mentor to young people, and an advisor on knife crime.

Leroy is one of 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.

Since his retirement, Leroy has built a reputation as a go-to person expert, using his decades of experience to give insightful, critical analysis on current events surrounding our justice system. He’s been called upon by the likes of Channel 4, Good Morning Britain, The Guardian, LBC, BBC Radio 4, HARDTalk, and more.

About the book

Closing Ranks is a history lesson in race relations in modern-day Britain, and a manifesto for anyone with a desire to mentor young people. Throughout, Leroy’s passion for good policing shines through, as does his concern to guide and empower young people. Underpinning all is his strong Christian faith, which helped him persevere in a frequently hostile work environment – and in the process, encourage other black officers to stay on and help change the culture within the police.

Online and in person.

What time should I arrive?

Please arrive between 7pm and 7.25pm.

In the event that we are over-subscribed on the night, we will admit ticket holders on a first-come, first-served basis, admitting non-ticket holders at 7.25pm.

This is due to consistently high no-show rates at in-person events.

What COVID-19 measures do you currently have in place?

We ask that you do not attend if you have any of the main COVID-19 symptoms, flu, or anything that could be transmitted by your attendance. We encourage you to take a lateral flow test before coming to the event.

How do I get to West Court, Jesus College?

The entry to West Court is directly on Jesus Lane next to Wesley House (Postcode CB5 8BJ), near to the intersection with Park Street. Please DO NOT ENTER through the main entrance via Porters’ Lodge, known as “the Chimney”. Our what3words address is tree.heat.bravo

What transport options do I have?

There is no on-site car parking at Jesus College for those attending our events unless they hold a Blue Badge. Having said that, the Blue Badge parking on site is a long and cobbled walk through the College away from West Court. Closer Blue Badge parking can be found on Park Street outside the bicycle shop. There is limited on-street parking outside the College on Jesus Lane.

***Please note that Park Street car park is closed for redevelopment***.

There are multiple Park and Ride options to the city centre, which drop you a short walk away from the College.

Regular train services run to Cambridge from London’s Kings Cross Station, London Liverpool Street, London St Pancras, and many other mainline UK stations. The College is located approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) from the railway station. Buses run about every 10 minutes and there is a taxi rank outside the station and one here in the city centre for your return.

What can I bring with me?

There are coat hooks around West Court, but there are no storage or coat minding facilities and we cannot take any responsibility for items left unattended. Bikes can be securely locked outside the ADC theatre. Mobile phones are allowed but must be silenced or placed on airline mode during the event. Flash photography is prohibited.

We do ventilate our event spaces as much as possible, so sometimes they can get a little chilly – we recommend bringing layers of clothing.

What if I have access requirements?

West Court is access-friendly and there are hearing loops. Please let us know about any access requirements in advance of any event via if-events@jesus.cam.ac.uk.

You can find information on how we manage your data at https://www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/college/about-us/data-protection.

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