Firsts in the Force

BHM looks back at some of the people who lead the way for ethnic minorities in UK police forces

John Kent – the First Black Police Officer - 1837
Norwell Roberts is known in the history books as the first black police officer in the UK after joining the Metropolitan Police in 1966. Roberts had a 30-year career with the Met, rising to the rank of detective sergeant. However a recent BBC film revealed that PC John Kent beat his record, as the son of a Caribbean slave who joined the police force in 1837.

Cy Grant, musician, author, artist joined the RAF in 1943 as one of the few black Officers. Shot down over Holland, he was later incarcerated in a German POW camp and escaped to Brussels at the close of the war in 1945. Here is his memorable story…