Top Met Cop Speaks Out: A Personal Message from London’s Senior BAME Officer
This isn’t official rhetoric from Counter Terrorism Policing or the National Police Chiefs’ Council. It’s a heartfelt message from me, a policing colleague with 28 years on the frontline.
A Proud 28-Year Journey as a Senior BAME Officer
I’m of mixed Indian and white British heritage and currently the most senior BAME officer in the UK. When I joined the Met in 1992, just after the eye-opening BBC documentary ‘Black and Blue,’ many thought I wouldn’t last 28 minutes – let alone decades. Yet here I am, still wearing the badge with pride and ready to do it all again.
Back then, the force wasn’t the caring, open institution it aims to be today. My first independent patrol in 1993 came with serious doubts. Soon after, the brutal racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in Eltham shook us all. The botched response left the Lawrence family devastated and exposed deep inequalities within policing.
Stephen Lawrence Inquiry: Policing’s Wake-Up Call
The Macpherson Inquiry that followed was a turning point. It pulled back the curtain on institutional racism and laid bare the failings affecting BAME communities, especially black Britons. At the time, less than 2% of officers were BAME. It was tough. Having the organisation I love publicly criticised was painful, but necessary.
Since then, progress has been made – but it’s been far from smooth. Setbacks have left scars. We still face a long road ahead, particularly in rebuilding trust with black communities.
George Floyd’s Death and Its Impact on UK Policing
The horrific killing of George Floyd in the US shocked us all. Like many BAME officers, I found it deeply shattering. Floyd’s last words, “I can’t breathe,” have echoed worldwide as a symbol of racial injustice and police brutality.
While we mustn’t lump all officers together or ignore differences in policing style and culture between the UK and US, Floyd’s death has forced us to confront racial bias in our own communities — from justice disparities to how lockdown rules have disproportionately targeted BAME populations.
Anger is bubbling up across the country, demanding honest reflection. Yes, a tiny minority misuse their power, but the vast majority of protesters are calling for real change. They have a point, and we must listen.
Standing Together for Change
I want to thank the officers managing protests here with restraint, dignity, and empathy under extreme pressure. You upheld the blue line with grace.
Policing in the UK is founded on courage, integrity, professionalism, and compassion. These values only mean something if we put them into action. Professionalism means knowing how to restrain someone safely, compassion means showing humanity even in the toughest moments.
It’s time to stand up — not kneel — against racism, inequality, and injustice. Together, people of all colours, faiths, and backgrounds can unite in peace and hope.
Support for BAME Officers and a Call to Action
If you’re working alongside BAME colleagues, check in with them. If you’re a BAME officer struggling with the weight of recent events, your feelings are valid — and support is here for you.
Let’s honour George Floyd’s memory by being better than the past. Let’s hold our values close, act boldly, and drive true, lasting change in policing.
