Young men who posed ‘little to no threat’ have been removed from a controversial gang matrix targeting black men.
Under reforms by the new Met Police Commissioner Mark Rowley, more than 1000 men on were taken off the list, the Guardian reports.
The gang matrix was found to be potentially breaching data laws and those listed could be subjected to tactics such as losing housing or driving licences.
The change comes after London Mayor Sadiq Khan pushed for the Met Police, which is under special measures, to change.
Speaking to the Guardian, Mark Rowley said: “We acknowledge that the gangs violence matrix does need to be redesigned, taking into account improvements in statistical methods and technologies.
“We know that young men, and in particular young black men, continue to be over-represented on the matrix.”
The matrix now has 1,933 individuals, a 49 percent drop from from 2017 when it peaked at 3,881.
Back in February 2021, Sadiq Khan said he could not ‘ignore the fact that Black Londoners have less trust in the Met.’
He said: “We simply cannot ignore the fact Black Londoners have less trust in the Met and that is why my comprehensive overhaul of the Gang Violence Matrix is so important to improving the trust and confidence London’s diverse communities have in our police.
“As a direct result of the Met acting on my recommendations to make the Matrix database more transparent, effective and more evidence based than ever before, more than 1,000 young Black Londoners who should not have been on it have now been removed.
"At the same time detection rates have improved."
Amnesty International revealed young black men are being targeted by appearing on the secretive database without their knowledge.
It said: "Amnesty International believes that the Gangs Matrix is unfit for purpose: it puts rights at risk, and seems not only ineffective but also counter-productive.
"Systems for gathering and sharing intelligence on individuals suspected of violent crime must be fair, implemented in accordance with human rights law, and have robust oversight mechanisms."
The Mayor went on to add that concerns about the disproportionate number black people on the matrix needed to be adressed
He said: “We know that gang-related violence still accounts for a significant proportion of the most serious violence in London and the Matrix is a necessary enforcement tool as well as a means to support and intervention, but it’s vitally important that the police continue to evaluate, improve and communicate how it is used to address concerns from communities about the disproportionate number of Black Londoners and young men on the Matrix.
“Keeping Londoners safe remains my top priority and while Ministers are refusing to fully refund City Hall and the Met for the money spent tackling the pandemic in London, I am committed to doing everything I can to help tackle crime – including investing £6m in the capital’s first-ever London Gang Exit Programme which is helping hundreds of young people at significant risk of harm from criminal gang activity to turn their lives around.”
The matrix was first established after the 2011 riots as the Conservative government believed that gangs were to blame for mass violence.
However, it was found that poor social conditions and poor relations with police were more of the cause.
