The BBC has been slammed after it claimed in an article that black communities were “really traumatised” after an officer was cleared of murdering Chris Kaba.
Kaba, 24, was shot through the front windscreen of an Audi Q8 in Streatham, south-east London, on September 5, 2022.
Martyn Blake, 40, the police firearms officer who fatally shot the 24-year-old, was found not guilty on Monday after a trial at the Old Bailey.
A BBC report, which said that the outcome of the case “really traumatised” black people in south London, has been blasted for generalising an entire community.
BBC under fire after claiming black communities left ‘traumatised’ by Chris Kaba verdictGetty/Family HandoutThe quote came from Anthony King, a local youth crime campaigner, who told the broadcaster that “many people have concerns” and are “really traumatised”.
King continued: “We went two steps forward in terms of building relationships and it just feels like we’ve taken a step back.
“With the police, we’ve seen the impact that it’s had here in Croydon in reducing teenage murders, and we’ve got to do what we can to keep seeing a change in our communities.”
Another individual, pastor Beryl St James, said the community was confused over “what threshold was used to decide to charge the officer with murder”.
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Police bodycam footage shows moment just before Chris Kaba shot by polcie marksmanPA“People are not looking for, and they don’t want, a guilty verdict per se. They want justice and they want the system to be looked at; at how we got to that position,” she said.
The broadcaster has been criticised for its portrayal of the black community’s response to the verdict.
Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said: “This is a dire piece of journalism which will damage public trust in the BBC. One man does not speak for the whole of society.
“The overwhelming majority of the British public’s thoughts are with Sgt Blake – who bravely put his life on the line to protect the public – and Chris Kaba’s victims.”
Samuel Kasumu, the former Tory candidate for Mayor of London, wrote on social media: “The majority of black people are not ‘traumatised’ by this unfortunate case.
Protests took place outside the Old Bailey following the verdict of Chris Kaba’s trialPA
“The majority of black people would have stopped and complied with the police officers. The majority of black people are law abiding citizens.”
Harry Miller, a former police officer who is from campaign group WeAreFairCop, also said: “The BBC needs to be clear that its job is not to act as a voice piece for selected community leaders or campaigners.
“Nor is it to promote a one-sided view that all black people must be traumatised by the death of an individual who was involved in serious criminal activity.”
GB News’ Charlie Peters added: “Did the BBC publish pieces about the black community being ‘traumatised’ after Chris Kaba opened fire in a packed nightclub over a gangland feud?
“Were there sympathetic interviews with ‘community leaders’ about their trauma after the Brixton shooting outside a primary school? Kaba was found with gunshot residue and a balaclava, pointing to his involvement in the attack the night before he was killed.”