The police are a problem. They're contributing to rising misogyny and authoritarianism.

In episode five of this season of From Below the Balcony, Graham and Abby talk to activist Issy Vine about her experiences fighting against misogyny and racism within the Met Police.

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Issy Vine is a former Metropolitan Police 999 call-handler who became a whistleblower after reporting a colleague for misogynistic and racist comments in 2023. When he was reinstated on appeal, she resigned, exposing what she describes as a culture of institutional protection and retaliation within policing. She is now a prominent advocate for accountability and systemic reform.

She founded Speak Up Now UK, a community interest company supporting whistleblowers across public and emergency services, and is campaigning for a statutory public inquiry into whistleblower treatment. She is also leading calls for “Isabelle’s Law,” which would establish an independent national police misconduct body.

Issy has been an outspoken supporter of survivors connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Mohamed Al-Fayed, using her platform to challenge abuses of power at the highest levels. Her work directly confronts extreme wealth inequality, entrenched privilege, and the role of the monarchy in upholding systems rooted in colonialism and unaccountable power.

Find out more about Issy below:

www.speakupnowuk.com

www.studioiv.store