Norwell Roberts

Norwell Lionel Roberts (né Gumbs; born 23 October 1946) is a British former police constable—the first black police officer to join London's Metropolitan Police. He eventually rose to the rank of Detective Sergeant. During his career, he was considered to be the first black police officer in the United Kingdom, although it has since been discovered that he had been preceded by Metropolitan Police Superintendent Robert Branford and Constable John Kent in Carlisle, both in the 19th century.

Early life Norwell Roberts was born Norwell Lionel Gumbs on 23 October 1946 in Anguilla, in the Leeward Islands in the West Indies.

His father died when he was three years old and his widowed mother, lured by promises of job opportunities and a better life, sailed for England in 1954. Roberts was left behind, to be raised by his strict preacher grandparents. His grandmother was a Methodist deaconess. When he misbehaved, he recalled with some horror, his grandmother would send him to the local shops wearing her dresses.

After constant misspelling of the name "Gumbs", he changed his name in 1968 by deed poll, taking his mother's maiden name of Roberts.

Police career On 3 April 1967, when Roberts was 21, he officially joined the Metropolitan Police and achieved media and public attention because he was the first black police officer in the Met, which covers the Greater London area. At that time the only black people in uniform were working for London Transport on the buses or the underground and British Rail. Under the scrutiny of the popular press of the time, Roberts completed his initial training at Hendon Police College.

He joined 'A' Relief and quickly became a popular member of the team due to his humour and dedication. He was disciplined verbally once for driving with fellow officers around the West End with a toilet roll hanging from the police van radio aerial.

As London's first black police officer, his career attracted significant media attention. Routine duties, such as patrolling his beat or policing protests in Trafalgar Square, were frequently covered by domestic and international newspapers. He was the subject of tabloid cartoons and appeared on the cover of Private Eye. His appointment was reported internationally, including in the Southern United States, where headlines referred to him as 'London's first negro cop'.

During Roberts' service, he policed anti-Vietnam War demonstrators paraded outside of the American Embassy. He was withdrawn from his post outside Rhodesia House after suffering abuse from anti-apartheid protesters who were protesting the hanging of three black Rhodesians. In 1969, Roberts was photographed linking arms with his colleagues during protests on the arrival of the South African rugby team at Twickenham.

Roberts transferred to CID at West End Central as a Temporary Detective Constable and later became a fully fledged Detective Constable in 1977 where he worked in the drugs squad and was occasionally seconded in undercover policing roles. Roberts was stationed at several police stations across London including Bow Street; Vine Street; West End Central; West Hampstead; Albany Street; Kentish Town; Acton; Ealing; Southall Ruislip; Wembley, Barnet; Borehamwood and Golders Green.

On his retirement in 1997, a leaving party was held at the banqueting rooms in Finchley. 600 people attended, including then Commissioner Paul Condon and his then-Chief Superintendent, Peter Twist.

Personal life Roberts has lived in Harrow with his wife Wendy since 1976. He is an active Freemason under the United Grand Lodge of England, initiated in 1985, and a member of Beauchamp Lodge No 1422 (West Kent) and Radlett Lodge No 6652 (Hertfordshire); he is also a member of the Holy Royal Arch and other Masonic orders.

Honours and awards Roberts received police commendations on three occasions, one of which was for his involvement in 1985 when he was part of a squad who arrested five people in six days for a contract killing. Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Robert Mark praised Roberts' contribution towards better relations between white and black communities. In 1995, Roberts' was awarded the Queen's Police Medal for distinguished service. On 15 March 1996, Roberts attended Buckingham Palace where he was presented with the medal by King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales. During the presentation, he told Roberts that "We need more people like you." In the Summer of 2016 C. Hub Magazine decided to award Norwell Roberts with the highest category of the Creativity, Legend Award in recognition and honour of his selfless and long dedication to the safety of the Community and his determination to pave way for the next generation. The ceremony took place on the 16th of November 2016.