Blair Peach and the Cass Report

“The Assembly notes the events that took place on 24^th April 1979 in Southall when the people of the town came together to resist a provocative meeting of the National Front in Southall Town Hall. This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the unlawful death of Blair Peach during the events that unfolded on that tragic day.

The Cass report, released in 2010, found that fourteen witnesses saw a police officer strike Blair Peach. The report concluded that there is no evidence to show Mr Peach received the injury that caused his death in any other way.^[1] The report that was published in 2010 contained redactions and, until an unredacted version is made available, questions surrounding the death of Mr Peach will remain unresolved. 

We recognise the significant progress made by the Metropolitan Police Service in the past forty years. The establishment of the Independent Office for Police Conduct provides independent investigation of complaints against police officers, the MPS workforce is far more representative of the city it serves, and body-worn video has increased accountability and transparency over the actions of officers as they carry out vital work to keep our city safe.

However, we also recognise that the MPS, MOPAC and public institutions still have more to do to improve the confidence of all the diverse communities they serve. In divisive times, and with increasing levels of hate crime, it is vital that all public institutions set a high standard for equality and tolerance. The realities of what happened forty years ago still cast a real shadow over our communities.

We therefore call upon the Mayor and the Chair of the London Assembly to write to the Home Secretary to set up a public inquiry to hold to account those responsible for the unlawful death of Blair Peach. We further call on MOPAC to publish an unredacted version of the Cass Report.”