Drum: ONE LIFE
ONE LIFE
88
G eorge Rhoden
Detectiv e Sergeant and Chair of the Metrop olitan
Black P olice A ssociation
2 4 years in the P olice Force.
H av e conditions changed for b lack officers since you j oined?
In 1980 when I joined the force there was overt racism. People did not like
having a black person in uniform and that was both the general public and
other police officers. Conditions have changed dramatically! As Chair of the
Metropolitan BPA we drive for change and have given submissions on that
basis to the Stephen Lawrence enquiry, and more recently, the Bill Morris
enquiry. These gave us the vehicle to broaden the debate on institutional
racism and how the institution itself was affecting service delivered to the
black community and dealing with its black staff.
What did friends and family think w hen you told them you w anted to b ecome a p olice officer?
Very surprised actually. All of us had been subject to stop and search on a daily basis under the SUS Law in the
area of North London that we lived in. So, they were surprised that I was “gonna join the enemy.” From the wider
community, I received adverse comments, and even threats to my family. But without the support of family and
friends I wouldn’t be here today. I believe I was the 100th black officer, and at that time, I was the only black
officer in my intake.
What career p ath do you intend to follow and w hat op p ortunities are op en to you?
I should hopefully be an inspector in the next few months. I aim to go as high as I possibly can before my
retirement in five years time. That’s when I will complete 30 years service. As Chair of the BPA, we’re flying out to
Washington to meet the mayor and to work with the youth cause, the mayor’s young people, and the
Washington Police Department as well as other prevalent projects across America. And we link into Jamaica and
South Africa.
What do you do w hen you’re not on duty? Can a p olice officer ev er really sw itch off?
Community engagement is a big passion of mine and I’d like to run, direct and implement projects where the
community, and specifically the black community, can gain rewards from enhancing their skills. I think there’s
serious synergy between Drum and the BPA. We have very similar aims and the same vision. The next generation
is very important to the BPA and very important to Drum; to Britain; and to our forefathers and mothers who
came over and did all of the cheap labour work which other people within this country did not want to do to
bring the economy up. Our young people need to know that and they need to be educated about their history.
We need to give them a vision because at this moment in time there is too much activity going away from
education. Although there are many among us going to university we still see a failure amongst black men in
particular. The BPA do a lot of work behind the scenes and I think Drum is an encouraging publication of good
objectives in striving to meet the needs of young and old alike.
What is the single most imp ortant thing a career in the p olice force has taught you?
To be true to yourself and never forget who you are and your identity.
For more information, please visit the Met BPA site at http://www.bpa.cc/