An investigation has been launched into a Sky News report that mistook protests against the death of Chris Kaba for crowds paying tribute to the Queen. Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom said 598 viewers had complained after presenter Sarah-Jane Mee said the crowd moving through central London were royal mourners.
The protest, on Saturday, September 10, saw hundreds of people turn out to support the family of Chris Kaba, who was shot dead by armed Metropolitan Police officers in south London. Rapper Stormzy and Hackney Labour MP Diane Abbott were also at the event in the capital, which saw supporters carrying signs saying “Justice for Chris Kaba” and “Black Lives Matter”.
A spokeswoman for Ofcom said: “We are investigating whether this programme broke our rules requiring news to be reported with due accuracy.” After the broadcast, Mee issued an apology on Twitter.
Mee wrote: “I made a mistake on air, I wrongly identified crowds in Trafalgar Sq as some of the 1000s heading to Palace when at that moment it was people turning out for Chris Kaba. I’d like to personally apologise to those involved. We are covering the march and its significance later today.”
Mr Kaba, 24, was killed on September 5 following a police pursuit of his car which ended in Streatham Hill, south London. The Audi he was driving was hemmed in by two police vehicles in Kirkstall Gardens, a narrow residential street, and one round was fired from a police weapon.
The Metropolitan Police officer involved has been suspended by the force and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating.
A statement issued by Sky News on the day of the broadcast said: "We apologise for a mistake made earlier today which accidentally misidentified aerial pictures of a protest march for Chris Kaba as a large gathering paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. We have also issued a correction on air to clarify the footage previously shown."
