Celebrating the life of Ron Hope, Britain's first black inspector. By David Michael davidforpcc
AS WE celebrate Black History Month in the United Kingdom this month, there is no more appropriate time to celebrate a great life in the Metropolitan Police Service of Ron Hope.
Fate brought Ron and I together in the Metropolitan Police Service as probationary Police Constables at Lewisham Police Station in early 1973. This was well ahead of the Race Relations Act of 1976 even though some senior Police Officers had lobbied for certain exemptions for the Police Service in the legislation.In an interview with his old school, Ron gave an insight into his introduction to the Metropolitan Police Service.
Ron was not deterred by the prevailing environment in the Metropolitan Police and British Policing in the early 1970’s. He embarked on his Police career with optimism and determination that he had a contribution to make for the greater good. He was the 12th black Police Officer in a Force of 28,000 sworn colleagues when he joined in that era of policing..
Ron passed the assessments to embark on the fast track Special Course for promotion to Inspector at Bramshill Police College. He successfully completed the accelerated promotion course and at the age of 25 he was posted as an operational Inspector to Marylebone Police Station in Central London on 3 December 1979.
This period coincided with the formation of the first Black Police Association in Britain in the Metropolitan Police Service. Ron became the first Chair when the Black Police Association was launched at Scotland Yard in September 1994. He appreciated both the need for this Support Network for black Police Officers and the associated challenges by those in policing who disapproved.
Ron was an outstanding exemplar for those of us who succeeded him as Chair of the Black Police Association. Ron was involved in discussions with various Constabularies around the country, more local Black Police Associations were launched, a National Communication Network of Black Police Associations emerged resulting in the United Kingdom National Black Police Association.
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