Since my last column much has changed – a new monarch, new prime minister who has appointed a new home secretary, Suella Braverman.

But, for anyone hoping for a change in the prevailing racism emanating from the Home Office the signs are not looking good.

Amongst Ms Braverman’s first actions were to write to every police chief instructing them to stop prioritising the diversity of their forces (more women and ethnic minority officers), declare her intention to clamp down even harder on migrants crossing the Channel and more worryingly to insist that the UK has "too many" migrants.

The “hostile environment” looks set to become even more hostile.

Ham & High: Vivek Lehal, Haringey Stand-Up to Racism (HSTUR)Vivek Lehal, Haringey Stand-Up to Racism (HSTUR) (Image: Archant)

I have written before about the institutional racism of the Metropolitan Police and the disproportionate deaths of Black people at the hands of the police. But we have a new commissioner of the Met Police, Sir Mark Rowley.

He was appointed on July 8 and took office on September 12.

Just days before he took charge, Chris Kaba, an unarmed Black man, was shot to death in south London. He was not a suspect, rather the car he was driving was "of interest".

Sir Rowley stated: “Racism will not be tolerated at the Met. We will be ruthless in hunting for and removing racists and others guilty of prejudice from the organisation.

"It is my belief the Met should be judged on actions, where words and gestures often fail.”

But it took a campaign from the Kaba family before the officer who shot Chris Kaba was suspended from duty and none of the officers involved have been questioned under caution even though there is a homicide investigation.

This month’s Stand up to Racism conference comes at a time when institutional racism persists despite changes of officials. Join us – register at bit.ly/SUTRconf2022.

Vivek Lehal is secretary for Haringey Stand up to Racism.