The London Launch of ‘True North’ with Sal Naseem

True North, the debut memoir by anti-racism advocate Sal Naseem, reveals his inspiring journey of resilience, values, and faith amid the challenges of working in a deeply flawed system. As a former senior leader at the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), Naseem shares his personal and professional battles against institutional racism, shedding light on the toxic culture and systemic injustices that undermined his efforts to bring about real change.

Known for his high-profile work on cases like Operation Hotton, which exposed gross police misconduct and led to the resignation of MPS Commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, Naseem became a leading voice on racial injustice and police accountability. However, despite his achievements, he faced constant adversity in an environment that was both hostile and discriminatory.

In True North, Naseem recounts the racism his family endured during his upbringing in Kilmarnock, the discrimination he faced in his leadership role at the IOPC, and the personal toll of fighting an oppressive system. Despite these challenges, his unwavering commitment to his values and his faith enabled him to endure and make a difference.

The book is also a testament to the power of resilience in the face of adversity, and a rallying cry for leadership to act with integrity, confront injustice, and stay true to their moral compass to break the cycles of discrimination that persist in many institutions today.

Naseem was interviewed for his London launch on Saturday 22 February by Nadia Khan, Founder of Golden Threads -a project dedicated to exploring and documenting shared histories, heritage and culture; as well as fighting systemic racism and Islamophobia. The event took place at the Maqam Centre in Kensal Rise, owned by Yusuf Cat Stevens.

Sal Naseem said: “The conversation at the launch was real, because the book is very raw and real. The topic of racism looked large and the consequences of living with it, working in it, being a victim of it and fighting it at a systemic level.

“One of my reflections was how sadly we've regressed in the past five years after what seemed like a real moment in 2020. Racism is becoming much more normalised as our politics threatens to be pulled to the far right.

“So yes, the conversation was heavy, but it was also full of optimism because I know if I had managed to do what I had in policing, then that possibility of change and fight rests in everyone but we need to surround ourselves with the right kinfolk to be able to do this.”

True North is available now and serves as both a deeply personal story and a powerful call to action for change.