Norwell Roberts was the first black police officer recruited into the public services in 1967.
Originally born in Anguilla, Norwell Roberts lost his farther when he was three years olds. Norwell had a strict upbringing still; often being made to wear a dress. This was good preparation for him being the first Black police officer (The Independent 1997). Norwell’s mother seized employment as a house main in the United Kingdom, which enabled them to move to the United Kingdom when he was 9 years old (Historical Geographies, 2013). Norwell Roberts (originally Gumbs) changed his name to Roberts, after constant misspelling, in 1968 taking his mothers maiden name (The Independent 1997). He worked for thirty years and was the first black metropolitan police officer …show more content…
Norwell Roberts joined the Metropolitan police force in the late sixties as part of a recruitment campaign for diversity within the public services where he later trained at Hendon Police College becoming the first black member of CID (Criminal Investigation Department) (Telegraph, 2014). In an interview with the telegraph, Norwell Roberts quoted that on his very first day, the sergeant said to him, “ill see that you never finish your probation nigger” (Telegraph, 2014) But at the time of the interview, Roberts said with a grin “He got that one wrong didn’t he” (Telegraph, 2014). Figures for diversity within the police force was shocking at the time. After six years of service the number of ethnic minority police officers has risen to 8 out of 21,500 (Unhappy Dialogue: The Metropolitan Police and black Londoners in Post-war Britain, 2004) Since promotion to the rank of sergeant, Norwell Roberts retired from the metropolitan police in 1997
Originally born in Anguilla, Norwell Roberts lost his farther when he was three years olds. Norwell had a strict upbringing still; often being made to wear a dress. This was good preparation for him being the first Black police officer (The Independent 1997). Norwell’s mother seized employment as a house main in the United Kingdom, which enabled them to move to the United Kingdom when he was 9 years old (Historical Geographies, 2013). Norwell Roberts (originally Gumbs) changed his name to Roberts, after constant misspelling, in 1968 taking his mothers maiden name (The Independent 1997). He worked for thirty years and was the first black metropolitan police officer …show more content…
Norwell Roberts joined the Metropolitan police force in the late sixties as part of a recruitment campaign for diversity within the public services where he later trained at Hendon Police College becoming the first black member of CID (Criminal Investigation Department) (Telegraph, 2014). In an interview with the telegraph, Norwell Roberts quoted that on his very first day, the sergeant said to him, “ill see that you never finish your probation nigger” (Telegraph, 2014) But at the time of the interview, Roberts said with a grin “He got that one wrong didn’t he” (Telegraph, 2014). Figures for diversity within the police force was shocking at the time. After six years of service the number of ethnic minority police officers has risen to 8 out of 21,500 (Unhappy Dialogue: The Metropolitan Police and black Londoners in Post-war Britain, 2004) Since promotion to the rank of sergeant, Norwell Roberts retired from the metropolitan police in 1997