Lewisham Green Councillor Advises Police Evasion: Aiding and Abetting?

A Green Councillor in Deptford, Hau-Yu Tam, has reportedly advised residents on how to avoid police facial recognition surveillance, reposting instructions from an ‘anti-raid’ network. This comes from Guido Fawkes, revealing a direct challenge to law enforcement by a public official.

Councillor Tam’s Latest Stunt

Hau-Yu Tam, a Green Councillor for Evelyn ward in Lewisham, has once again found herself embroiled in controversy. Guido Fawkes reports that Ms Tam took to her Instagram story to share advice on how to circumvent Metropolitan Police facial recognition technology. The post, originating from an ‘anti-raid’ network, included a marked map of New Cross Road in Deptford, pinpointing the exact location of a police surveillance van near an Asda supermarket.

The instructions were explicit: “Police are using live facial recognition surveillance in Deptford today, on the high st. The surveillance van (see pic) is parked at the south/bottom end by the Asda (red pin). Avoid the area if you can and warn others – if you can see the van, the cameras can see you”. This is not merely a passive observation; it is an active directive to evade legitimate police operations.

A Pattern of Provocation

This incident is not an isolated one for Councillor Tam. She previously gained notoriety for labelling David Lammy and Priti Patel as “coconuts” on social media platform X. While a conduct complaint was lodged, Lewisham Council’s Standards Sub-Committee controversially cleared her, ruling the comment was “clearly political in nature”. Ms Tam later issued an apology, acknowledging the term was “not appropriate”.

“My intent was to criticise Lammy and Patel’s assimilation into white supremacy and upholding of colonial systems. I was not going after the colour of their skin but rather their mentality.”

— Hau-Yu Tam, Green Councillor, Lewisham, as quoted by Evening Standard

Such rhetoric and actions raise serious questions about the judgement of a public servant whose role is to uphold the law and serve all constituents, not to actively undermine police efforts.

Lewisham’s ‘Sanctuary’ Stance

The wider context in Lewisham is equally concerning. The Green Party-led council, under Mayor Liam Shrivastava, has already declared itself the first in the UK to refuse assistance to immigration enforcement efforts. Councillor Tam herself holds the portfolio of “Cabinet Member for Communities, Sanctuary and Healing”, a title that now rings hollow given her apparent willingness to advise on police evasion.

The Met’s facial recognition technology is deployed to identify individuals on a watchlist, typically those wanted for serious crimes. Actively broadcasting methods to bypass this technology, particularly by a local councillor, creates a dangerous precedent. It suggests an official endorsement of obstructing justice, rather than facilitating it.

The Implications for Law and Order

• Direct Obstruction: Councillor Tam’s actions directly interfere with police efforts to identify wanted individuals.
• Undermining Authority: Public officials advising on police evasion erodes trust in law enforcement and local governance.
• Public Safety Concerns: If wanted individuals successfully evade capture due to such advice, public safety could be compromised.
• Council’s Stance: The incident highlights the Green-led Lewisham Council’s broader policy of non-cooperation with enforcement agencies.
• Precedent Set: This could encourage similar actions from other anti-establishment groups or individuals.

This is not about protecting civil liberties; it is about a public official actively undermining the rule of law. The silence from the Green Party leadership on such overt obstruction of police work speaks volumes. Ordinary Britons expect their elected representatives to uphold the law, not help others break it.

Source: Guido Fawkes | Breaking Brexit News