Black in Blue

“In 1990 the Metropolitan Police wants more Black and Asian recruits – young men and women trained to fight not only crime but also prejudice. Three men and four women, from the ethnic minorities of London, joined the blue intake at Hendon Police College (1988) more than two years ago. The eldest, Denzil, a 32-year-old West Indian, was the only graduate. The youngest, Julie, aged 20 with a Guyanese father, was working as an airline receptionist. Then there’s Faz Ahmed, a Pakistani customs officer from Hounslow, plus a South African clerk, a West Indian social worker, and a part-Indian restaurant manageress. They had all faced prejudice before. They knew they would probably find it even within the ranks of the police force. Ahead of them, 20 pressure-filled weeks in the police college and then one of the toughest jobs on London’s streets.”

A fascinating behind the scenes look at a world famous institution – The London Metropolitan Police – and in particular the experiences of seven new recruits, all from a Black or Asian heritage. The documentary culminates with a round table discussion involving Sir Peter Imbert, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and it is here that some of the recruits express their anger and frustation at the racist and sexist culture that thrives unabated within the Met. The recent (1990) Bristol Seminars are referred to at some length by both the Commissioner and some of the recruits and generally speaking all agree that the seminars were good for the Met in that they allowed Black/Asian officers to come together, exchange views, bond and and speak openly about their experiences as police officers. The Commissioner emphasises the good that came out of the seminars and refers to some of the initiatives developed directly as a result of the seminars and goes on record to say that the Met is no place for racists.