The London Policing Board

Sadiq Khan was born in London and has lived here all his life. His parents moved to London from Pakistan in the 1960s. He was state-school educated in Tooting before studying Law at the University of North London. Sadiq and his wife have two daughters.

Sadiq became a solicitor specialising in human rights and was a councillor in the London Borough of Wandsworth from 1994 to 2006.

In 2005 Sadiq was elected MP for Tooting. He was appointed Minister of State for Communities in 2008 and later became Minister of State for Transport, becoming the first Muslim and first Asian to attend Cabinet. He was also Crossrail Minister.

In 2013 Sadiq was appointed Shadow Minister for London, and in 2015 he led the Labour Party campaign in London in the General Election.

Sadiq is a big sports fan, especially football, boxing and cricket. He ran the 2014 London Marathon, raising money for the Evening Standard's Dispossessed Fund.

Sadiq's GLA register of interests

Professor Sir John Aston is Harding Professor of Statistics in Public Life at the University of Cambridge, where he leads research into the use of quantitative evidence in public policy making, works with those in public life to ensure the best methods are used, and aims to improve the use of statistics and other quantitative evidence in public policy debates. He also works in the areas of statistics in healthcare, particularly medical imaging, and he is Co-Director of the Cambridge Mathematics of Information in Healthcare Hub. He was awarded a knighthood in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to statistics and public policymaking.

From 2017-2020 he was the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Home Office, and Director-General for Science, Technology, Analysis, Research and Strategy. He is a board member of the UK Statistics Authority, and formerly was a board member and trustee of the Alan Turing Institute. He also has worked in Taiwan and in the United States. John is the President-Elect of the Royal Statistical Society and will serve as President for 2025 and 2026.

John grew up in London and has a degree in Maths from Cambridge and a PhD in Statistics from Imperial College, London, jointly with McGill University, Montreal.

John's register of interests

Jas Athwal has served as the Leader of Redbridge Council since 2011, and as a councillor for Mayfield ward since 2010. Cllr Athwal was born in the Punjab in India before moving to Ilford with his family at age 7. He was educated at Mayfield High School in Goodmayes and received a Masters degree in Analysis Design of Management Information Systems from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is a former accountant and computer security expert, and currently operates a children’s day care business with his wife.

Since being elected Leader, Cllr Athwal has radically transformed the operations of Redbridge Council and overseen an unprecedented regeneration programme in Redbridge, delivering local leisure, education, and community services. In 2019, Cllr Athwal was elected to serve as the London Councils Executive Member for Community Safety and Violence Against Women and Girls.

Cllr Athwal has reshaped community safety policy in Redbridge, delivering groundbreaking Enforcement Hubs. Under Cllr Athwal’s leadership Redbridge Council has invested significantly in ANPR cameras, CCTV, and enforcement presence, launched a Community Crime Commission, and is undertaking a trailblazing local campaign ‘ThisHasToStop’ to end sexist harassment and abuse. As part of the campaign, Redbridge was the first council in the country to use Public Space Protection Order powers to enforce against on-street sexual harassment.

Cllr Athwal is a passionate supporter of local football, having played locally and internationally for many years and managed various local football teams.

Neil Basu, 55, is a retired Metropolitan Police Service officer who served as the Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations (ACSO) and national lead for Counter Terrorism Policing 2018-2021. He retired in 2022 as a Non-Executive Director at the College of Policing representing National Police Chiefs Council and he was the Leadership & International Strategic Advisor to the College Board. He delivered the 2021 Strategic Command Course for the College, it’s most senior leadership development programme for aspiring Chief Officers. He retired in November 2022.

Neil was at the forefront of Counter Terrorism policing for over 6 years during an unprecedented shift in threat, and has been instrumental in strengthening police capability, closer working with intelligence partners, and an increase in preventative interventions to counter radicalisation. During his tenure his teams, in partnership with MI5, disrupted 29 plots, responded to 12 attacks, arrested, charged, and convicted over 600 terrorists.

Neil was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) for distinguished service in 2016. In 2022 he received an Honorary Award as Doctor of Laws from Staffordshire University for promoting diversity in policing. Married, he has three sons.

Neil's register of interests

Tijs Broeke is a senior communications and government relations advisor with a professional background in equal opportunities, infrastructure, security and tech sectors.

Born in the Netherlands, Tijs has lived in London for almost 20 years. He is passionate about making a positive difference in our city and ensuring the safety and well-being of all Londoners.

Tijs served as a Special Constable with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) supporting his LGBTQI+ community in Soho back in 2010. In addition, he has been a trustee at Working Chance, a charity supporting women ex-offenders. He is currently a member of the City of London Police Authority Board – overseeing security and community safety in the Square Mile and fight against fraud and cyber-crime.

In addition to his knowledge of policing and criminal justice, Tijs has been active in the education sector. He is chair of the London Metropolitan University and previously at the City of London Academy Trust, which educates over 7,800 students in 10 primary and secondary schools across London.

Having previously worked for the Equal Opportunities Commission, Tijs is passionate about social mobility and promoting a diverse and inclusive city.

Tijs's register of interests

Nick Campsie is an economist and investor who has held senior positions in the asset management industry, including a decade as a partner of Eton Park Capital Management. He was previously an Associate Director at Terra Firma Capital Partners, and an Associate at McKinsey and Company. 

Nick served as a Non-Executive Board Member at the Ministry of Justice from 2018 until 2022 and oversaw the reunification of offender management services as Chair of the department’s Probation Challenge Panel. He was appointed Non-Executive Chair of the Legal Aid Agency in June 2023.

In 2018, Nick founded the Madison Foundation, a charity focussed on combatting disadvantage, which he now chairs. He has previously served as Chair of Down Syndrome Education International, and Deputy Chair of inclusive theatre group Chickenshed.

Nick's register of interests

Carolyn Downs has worked in local and central government for over 40 years. Most recently she was the Chief Executive of the London Borough of Brent from 2015-2023. Prior to that, she served as Chief Executive of the Local Government Association (LGA) from 2011-15. She has also previously served as Chief Executive of the Legal Services Commission, Chief Executive of Shropshire County Council, and as Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice. She started her career in the public library services of first Bolton Metropolitan Borough and then the London Borough of Haringey. Whilst working at Brent Council she was the lead London Chief Executive for Police and Crime Prevention from 2016-22.

She was awarded the honour of the position Companion of the Order of the Bath in the New Years Honours List in 2011 for services to Local and National Government. She is now retired from full time employment and is a senior advisor for the private company Newton Europe, a NED for the NWL Collaborative of 4 Acute trust hospitals and is also a NED/Advisor to the recently established State of Jersey Health and Care Board.

Carolyn's register of interests

Sayce Holmes-Lewis is the founder & CEO of Mentivity, an award-winning mentoring organisation, and alternative education provision that provides aspirational support for young people, schools, parents, and carers across London, Brighton, Barbados, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia. 

Founded in 2016, Mentivity has touched the lives of over 25,000 young people with their adaptable, holistic approach and proven record of expertise in coaching, mentoring and comprehensive support.

Sayce’s dedication to racial equity and social justice stems from an encounter with the Metropolitan police at the age of 14 in which he was brutally assaulted by a serving officer on the way home from school in South London. Despite having CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts of the assault, the case was thrown out by the CPS due to lack of evidence. The impact of this injustice remained with Sayce for almost two and a half decades, during which time he leaned into his community for support in overcoming PTSD. Sayce has since been stopped & searched over 40 times, which further compounded the psychological impact of complex racial trauma.

During the lockdown of May 2020, while carrying out food drop-offs to bereaved community members, Sayce was once again harassed, tormented & searched by the Metropolitan Police after being racially profiled and labeled as a drug dealer. Amidst a global outcry of Black Lives Matter, Sayce filmed the incident. It soon went viral across social media, highlighting ongoing issues the Black British community face, and drawing parallels with the policing of Black communities across the diaspora.

Once again, Sayce leaned into the global community to amplify the issue and challenge police conduct publicly. This initiated a new level of dialogue and transparency with the Metropolitan police and mainstream media. Leveraging the direct engagement, Sayce initiated a ground-breaking, solution-led training program at New Scotland Yard, in partnership with the Metropolitan Police.

In sharing his story and facilitating dialogue around best practices, Sayce has demonstrated that respect, integrity, and cultural equity are at the heart of positive policing. Sayce now trains the Metropolitan and City of London Police services on how to effectively engage with the Black community in relation to stop & search and cultural competency

Stuart Lawrence is a British educator, author, and activist who promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion in education and society. He was born on April 14, 1977, in London, England, as the younger brother of Stephen Lawrence, a young black man tragically murdered in a racially motivated attack in 1993. The murder of his brother had a profound impact on Stuart’s life and inspired him to become an advocate for justice and equality.

Stuart grew up in southeast London and attended the University of Northampton, where he earned a degree in Graphic Communications. After graduation, he worked in various roles before deciding to pursue a career in education. He became a teacher in 2003, working in a secondary school in South London. He later became a consultant, providing training and support to schools and educators on race, diversity, and inclusion issues.

In 2019, Stuart published his first book, “Silence is Not an Option: You Can Impact the World for Change”, in which he shared his personal story and called on readers to take action when they see it and become the best version of themselves. The book received critical acclaim and was widely praised for its powerful and inspiring messages for the youth of today. Stuart has also become a prominent voice in the fight for racial justice and equality in the UK. He has appeared on various media outlets, including BBC News, Sky News, and Channel 4, to discuss issues of race and education. He has also worked with multiple organisations including the Police.

Stuart is passionate about ensuring that all children, regardless of background, have access to quality education and equal opportunities. He has spoken out about the systemic barriers that prevent children from disadvantaged backgrounds from achieving their full potential, including poverty, racism, and inadequate education systems. In 2020, Stuart launched his consultancy, Inclusive Exchange Ltd which provides training and support to schools, educators, and businesses on diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism issues. Through his consultancy, Stuart has worked with numerous schools and organisations to help them create more inclusive environments and promote equality.

Stuart is also a mentor and role model for young people, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds. He has spoken about the importance of positive role models and the need to give young people opportunities to succeed. He has worked with various organisations to mentor and support young people. Stuart’s work has been recognised and honoured by various organisations. In 2021 Stuart received a Special Recognition Award from the MBCC awards for his work. In 2022 Stuart was awarded an Honorary doctorate by Greenwich University for his efforts over recent times and most recently he was recognised as one of The Big Issue: Change Makers of 2023: Education, people that are using the power of learning to help others find their place in the world.

Susan Lea has worked in higher education for over 30 years.  A psychologist by training, she held a variety of senior roles in a diversity of UK universities.  Most recently, she was Vice Chancellor of the University of Hull where she led a significant successful transformation of the university’s financial sustainability and academic performance.  Susan’s leadership is infused with a strong commitment to matters of social justice and equity, drawing on her academic research including in areas of sexual violence and racism.

Susan is now Managing Director of Sagewood Consulting Ltd and works to support institutions, their leadership and governing body, in delivering strategic ambitions through inclusive change processes that realise intended benefits. She also coaches and mentors senior executives, contributes to leadership development programmes and lectures on successful turnaround.  She serves on several Boards and remains passionate about securing a more equitable and just society.

Susan's register of interests

Sophie Linden is London's Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime.

Sophie was a Hackney councillor from 2006 until her appointment by the Mayor of London. She was Deputy Mayor of Hackney Council, with lead responsibility for crime and community safety, environmental health and trading standards, equalities and neighbourhood and civic engagement.

Sophie was part of the senior leadership that saw Hackney awarded 'Council of the Last 20 Years’ (2016) by the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards, the LGC Editor’s Award for Partnership Working (2014) for their ground breaking gangs unit, and a rating of ‘excellent’ in the Local Government Equality Framework

She was a special adviser at the Home Office from 2001 to 2004. While there Sophie worked with the Home Secretary and Ministers on policy development and strategy, including: police reform, crime and antisocial behaviour reduction, neighbourhood policing and reducing the harm caused by illegal drugs. From 1997 to 2001 Sophie was a special adviser to David Blunkett in the Department for Education and Employment.

Sophie has been a member of the Local Government Association (LGA) Safer Communities Board, a peer reviewer for the LGA on community safety, and a member of the HMIC advisory board on PEEL (the police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy programme) inspections.

Sophie has worked in the voluntary sector as a campaigns and policy manager, campaigning to end child poverty. She has also worked in the private sector as a director of public affairs.

Sophie has lived in Hackney for the last 30 years.

Sophie's register of interests

With a background in community development, local government and the Cabinet Office, Paula brings a wealth of experience to the London Policing Board.  As a Senior Civil Servant Paula advised ministers, leading major policy reviews and introducing legislation across Whitehall, on public body governance, leadership and workforce reform. Her award of a CBE was in recognition of her contribution to public services and leadership reform. Paula has recently taken up the position of the Chair of Redthread Youth charity, leading the board of trustees to help vulnerable adolescents and young people break the cycle of violence by providing impactful youth work in health settings. 

Paula currently holds several portfolio roles within the youth, justice and regulatory sectors, including as a Trustee for New Horizon Youth. Additionally, Paula is a Lay Panel Chair for Judicial Appointments and a Regulatory Adjudicator and Panel Chair for Social Work England. She has been a Chair and Non-Executive Director for Youth First, a Non Executive Director for a Children’s Social Services Trust and a London hospital trust as well as a School Governor and Federation Chair. 

Paula's register of interests

Nicola Rollock is Professor of Social Policy and Race at King’s College London and Distinguished Fellow at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. She is interested in how we think about and understand racism as a basis for fostering meaningful change. 

She is widely known for her research which examines, for the first time in the UK, the career experiences of Black female Professors and the exhibition that led on from this, Phenomenal Women which was displayed at London's Southbank Centre. She was previously a member of the Wellcome Trust’s Diversity & Inclusion Steering Group, Specialist Adviser to the Home Affairs’ Select Committee’s ‘The Macpherson Report: 22 Years On’ Inquiry and Senior Adviser on race and higher education to the University of Cambridge. 

Nicola was selected by We Are the City as one of 50 HSBC-sponsored trailblazers for championing gender equity; identified by apolitico as one of the 100 most influential academics in politics and, by Times Higher Education as one of eleven scholars globally to have influenced the debate in higher education. Nicola is author of a new book The Racial Code: tales of resistance and survival published by Penguin Press in 2022.

Nicola's register of interests

Andrea Simon has worked in the ending violence against women and girls (VAWG) sector since 2017. She was appointed EVAW's Director in January 2021, to lead the organisation's influential work to improve responses to women and girls at risk of and experiencing abuse. EVAW is a UK-wide coalition of more than 140 women’s organisations, researchers and experts working to end all forms of VAWG.  Andrea is a leading campaigner and commentator influencing government and statutory agencies to adopt better, more joined up approaches to ending and preventing VAWG.  She sits on a number of partnership and advisory boards to improve strategic responses to VAWG at a local and national level, and Co-Chairs MOPAC's VAWG board. 

Andrea is an experienced charity trustee in the equality and human rights sector, and has previously spent more than a decade working for Members of Parliament in Westminster and the EU, as well as conducting research and policy work on child trafficking and modern slavery. Andrea has a BA hons in Politics and English from Loughborough University, and a Masters degree in the History of Imperialism. She has two children and lives with her family in South East London. 

Andrea's register of interests

Leslie Thomas, a native of Notting Hill, London, has dedicated his career to the advocacy of human rights and civil liberties. Recognised for his expertise in Police Law, Inquests, and Public Inquiries, he has represented families in landmark cases such as the Birmingham Pub Bombing Inquests, Hillsborough, the Grenfell Inquiry, and others including Azelle Rodney, Mark Duggan, Christopher Alder, and Sean Rigg.

A two-time recipient of the Legal Aid Barrister of the Year award (2012 & 2016), Professor Thomas's accolades include the Outstanding Contribution to D&I from the UK Chambers Bar Awards in 2020. He formerly served as Joint Head of Garden Court Chambers and, in 2020, took up the mantle of Professor of Law at Gresham College. Concurrently, he is a Visiting Professor of Law at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Beyond his academic pursuits, Professor Thomas champions equality, diversity, and inclusion as the Master for these areas and chairs the respective sub-committee at the Inner Temple. He is a vital member of several boards and committees, including the Bar Standards Board, its Race Equality Task Force, the King’s Counsel Appointments Panel, and the Standards for Public Life Committee for the London Borough of Lewisham.

A prolific writer, Professor Thomas co-authored “Inquests: A Practitioner’s Guide,” which has seen three editions, and has penned numerous articles on race, diversity, and the legal profession. His autobiography, ‘Do Right and Fear No One,’ detailing his life growing up in London and his illustrious career at the Bar, was published in 2022.

Leslie's register of interests

Claire Waxman was appointed in 2017 by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to be London’s first Independent Victims’ Commissioner, and was subsequently reappointed in May 2021.

Claire brings a wealth of personal insight and expertise to the role - having been the victim of a sustained stalking campaign, during which time she founded a campaign group which successfully fought for improved legislation and support for victims and survivors. As a prominent champion for victims’ rights Claire led a successful campaign for change in stalking laws and spearheaded the Victims’ Law campaign.

In her role as Independent Victims' Commissioner for London, Claire has undertaken an ambitious programme of work to transform the criminal justice system to provide a better experience for victims of crime. This includes convening three Victims Summits; publishing two Rape Reviews and a Review into the Victims Code of Practice; holding a series of roundtables to better understand the experiences of specific groups of victims; and lobbying for key legislative change through the Domestic Abuse Bill, Policing Bill, and Victims and Prisoners Bill.

Claire works alongside victims and survivors, amplifying their voices and promoting their interests with criminal justice partners to ensure that they are heard and that lessons are learnt to inform and shape practices, policies, and service provision. With the support of the Mayor, she is working with partners to progress her vision for a Victim Care Hub in London, to transform the way victims receive support and navigate through their criminal justice journey.

Claire was awarded an OBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours for services to victims of crime.

Claire's register of interests

Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard is London’s Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice.

Since taking office, Debbie has made it a priority to ensure London’s diverse communities have a voice in their city. She works to promote social justice and equality for all communities and is a key player in driving London’s social recovery from COVID-19. 

Debbie chairs the Mayor’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory group, as well as London’s Strategic Migration Panel and is co-chair of the Diversity in the Public Realm Commission. She is also a member of the TUC Anti-Racism Taskforce and the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Systemic Inequalities and Social Cohesion.

Debbie joined the mayoral team in 2018 from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation where she led the organisation’s work on poverty and ethnicity with additional areas of expertise on labour markets, education, lone parents and young people. Prior to this Debbie worked at the Runnymede Trust as Head of Research, running their work on inclusive curriculum development, education attainment gaps and school exclusion as well as work on community cohesion, race and criminal justice and youth transitions. She also worked as a Lecturer of Social Psychology and Criminology, teaching students in both the further and higher education sectors. 

Debbie has sat on several influential panels and working parties including the Poverty Commissions for both the National Union of Students and the London borough of Lewisham and is a member of the British Journal of Sociology of Education Editorial Board. She has also served locally as a chair of governors for two federated primary schools in East London.  

Debbie has a PhD in Psychology and Sociology, was born in Brent and lives in Waltham Forest. 

Debbie's GLA register of interests