Mayor intends to appoint Council leader Kaya Comer-Schwartz as new Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime

• Kaya Comer-Schwartz has served as the Leader of Islington Council for more than three years, where she led transformation of youth services and £2m investment supporting survivors of violence against women.
• The appointment of the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is subject to a confirmation hearing by the Assembly Policing and Crime Committee.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has appointed Kaya Comer-Schwartz as London’s new Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime.

Kaya Comer- Schwartz was born and raised in London and has been an Islington councillor for more than a decade. She has served as Council Leader for more than three years. She previously worked as Executive Member for Community Safety and Children, Young People and Families, championing equality, public safety and community cohesion.  

Kaya was responsible for the transformation of the Council’s Youth Justice Services and oversaw a £2 million investment in vital services for survivors of violence against women and girls – ensuring key services were available and accessible for all of the borough’s diverse communities.

She has also worked on a pioneering local action plan following the publication of the Baroness Casey Review and worked closely with communities and the local police to identify clear steps to rebuild confidence and trust in the service. 

The appointment follows the announcement last week that Sophie Linden*, who has served as London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime for the last eight years, is stepping down to take up a new position as a senior adviser to Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood MP.

The appointment of a new Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is subject to a confirmation hearing by the London Assembly Policing and Crime Committee.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Nothing is more important to me than keeping Londoners safe. Kaya brings extensive experience to the role, working to make Londoners safer and improving trust and confidence in the police, which we know leads to reductions in violence and crime.

“I’m pleased to appoint Kaya Comer-Schwartz as London’s new Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and I’m confident that she will help us to continue reforming the police and deliver a safer London for everyone.”

Kaya Comer-Schwartz said: “I’m thrilled to have been proposed as London’s new Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime.

“From dealing with the aftermath of the Finsbury Park terror attack to empowering communities and the police to stand together following the far-right riots this summer, I am proud to have championed justice, community cohesion and public safety throughout my career.

“I am excited about the prospect of bringing my skills, knowledge and experience to the role and driving the urgent reforms needed to the police to deliver a safer and more equal London.”