London’s Top Cop Speaks Out on Race, Policing, and Change
This isn’t a polished statement from the Head of Counter Terrorism or a senior Met Police official. It’s a heartfelt message from me, a policing colleague across the UK, speaking from experience and conviction.
I’ve proudly worn the badge for 28 years. As the UK’s most senior BAME officer, of mixed Indian and white British heritage, I’ve seen policing through a unique lens.
From Doubt to Determination: A Journey Through Change
I joined the Met in 1992, just after the hard-hitting BBC documentary Black and Blue. It exposed the shattered hopes of young black and Asian recruits. Friends warned me I wouldn’t last 28 minutes, let alone decades.
But here I am, still standing. And I’d join again in a heartbeat.
My early days were filled with doubt about the organisation’s future. Then came the brutal murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 — a racist attack that shattered a community and exposed deep failings in the police response. The subsequent Macpherson Inquiry marked a watershed moment, revealing entrenched inequalities and demanding change.
Back then, BAME officers made up less than 2% of the force. It was tough to be a minority inside an institution struggling with its own flaws. The inquiry’s damning verdicts left scars, but also sparked hard-fought progress — progress that hasn’t always been smooth.
The Road Ahead: Confronting Racial Injustice and Policing
Despite gains, we still face stark challenges, especially within black communities.
The killing of George Floyd in the US was a gut punch to us all. For many BAME officers, it hit even harder. Floyd’s dying words, “I can’t breathe,” are seared into global consciousness as a symbol of racial injustice.
While UK policing differs from the US in structure, law, and culture, the anger over racial bias and institutional inequalities is shared. In the UK, young black men still face disproportionate criminal justice outcomes. BAME communities have suffered more from COVID-19 and policing of lockdown rules — disparities seen in education, health, and work.
We must listen carefully to this valid anger, separating minority criminal opportunists from the overwhelming majority peacefully protesting in solidarity with George Floyd’s memory.
A Call for Compassion and Courage Within the Force
To my fellow officers policing protests: thank you for your restraint, dignity, and empathy under pressure.
Our values — courage, integrity, professionalism, and compassion — must shape every action we take. Professionalism means knowing how to restrain without harm. Integrity means speaking up for justice, even when it’s tough.
One brave BAME officer’s courage to speak up inspired me to share this message.
Most of all, we must reclaim compassion — the element missing in George Floyd’s death.
In the days ahead, check in on your BAME colleagues. Their feelings matter, whether they’re coping or struggling. If you need support, don’t hesitate to ask.
Let’s honour George Floyd by committing to real change. Some officers have taken a knee as a symbol of hope and challenge. I say: it’s time to stand up — stand up to racism, inequality, and injustice.
We can do better. We must do better. There is no greater sight than people from all faiths, colours, and backgrounds united in peace against injustice.
Now, more than ever, it’s time to stand together.
