Festus Akinbusoye is a unique figure in British politics. A Conservative politician and former police officer, he has had a complicated relationship with the Metropolitan Police. As a young man, he was stopped and searched six times by police, once on suspicion of being on "London's most wanted" list. Despite these experiences, he went on to become a police officer and served as Britain's first Black crime commissioner for Bedfordshire Police from 2021 to 2024. He is also a former professional basketball player and a collector of Air Jordan sneakers. Now, he is aiming to run as the Conservative candidate for London Mayor in the 2028 election. Born and raised in London, Akinbusoye attended school and university in the city. He is currently a Westminster councillor and a single parent to three children. At 48, he is seeking to replace Sadiq Khan, who has been London's mayor since 2016. Khan has not yet confirmed whether he will run for a fourth term. Akinbusoye's main rival for the Conservative mayoral nomination is James Cleverly, a former cabinet minister and long-time member of the London Assembly. In an interview with Metro, Akinbusoye emphasized his deep understanding of London's challenges. He believes this makes him the best candidate to win the mayoral election for the Conservatives. His policy proposals focus on increasing police presence and re-evaluating the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charge in outer London boroughs. Akinbusoye argued that London's police force is overstretched and under-resourced. He aims to boost the number of officers to 40,000 over an eight-year term and increase the number of special constables. He also wants to retain more officers, many of whom leave London due to high workloads. Akinbusoye said his early experiences with being stopped and searched by police did not turn him against the Met. Instead, they gave him a deeper understanding of the pressures faced by officers. He described himself as both a "champion" and "challenger" to the police, pushing for reform while supporting the force. Beyond policing, he plans to review the police budget, restore borough commanders for all 32 London boroughs, and reassess the ULEZ charge in outer London. He also wants to address school truancy and reduce the financial burden on the hospitality sector. Ultimately, Akinbusoye needs to convince Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch that his vision offers the best chance for the party to win the mayoral election for the first time since 2016. The final decision will be made by a vote of Conservative Londoners. As he left the interview, Akinbusoye confidently declared, "Festus for mayor!" The next London Mayoral election is scheduled for May 4, 2028.