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I Am Norwell Roberts: The Story of The Met’s First Black Police Officer
Norwell Roberts, who became the Met's first Black police officer in 1967, found out he had a new job the same way the rest of the country did - from a Daily Telegraph headline that read 'MET TO HAVE FIRST COLOURED POLICEMAN'.
From that day forward his face became a symbol - of acceptance, of a diverse police force, of a changing Britain. He was turned into the poster boy for progressive policing - but his day-to-day reality was anything but. Greeted with prejudice, ridicule, and rejection, he refused to quit. And thus began an extraordinary career that placed him on the frontlines for a tumultuous period in Britain's history. Stationed at embassies, anti-war protests, and riots, his race singled him out and landed him on front pages around the world. This is the story of the man behind the headlines, in his own words.
Conversations about the police as an institution have never been more heated or more urgent than they are today, but to appreciate the present and how far we have come we sometimes need to revisit the past, no matter how painful. Honest, moving, and impossible to forget, I am Norwell Roberts is a story of resilience against the odds, and of one man's ability to make a difference.
From that day forward his face became a symbol - of acceptance, of a diverse police force, of a changing Britain. He was turned into the poster boy for progressive policing - but his day-to-day reality was anything but. Greeted with prejudice, ridicule, and rejection, he refused to quit. And thus began an extraordinary career that placed him on the frontlines for a tumultuous period in Britain's history. Stationed at embassies, anti-war protests, and riots, his race singled him out and landed him on front pages around the world. This is the story of the man behind the headlines, in his own words.
Conversations about the police as an institution have never been more heated or more urgent than they are today, but to appreciate the present and how far we have come we sometimes need to revisit the past, no matter how painful. Honest, moving, and impossible to forget, I am Norwell Roberts is a story of resilience against the odds, and of one man's ability to make a difference.
- GenresNonfiction
218 pages, Hardcover
Published June 9, 2022
1 person is currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 17, 2022
interesting autobiography of the Met's first black police officer as he discusses his career from training at Hendon to several parts of his policing career until his retirement and his experiences of racism and how he dealt with things.
March 13, 2023
Rogue choice for me but was on the new in section at the library last week and Im always up for broadening my horizons!!! I don’t like the police, and found norwell roberts quite self righteous as a person. I thought he was too forgiving of the police as a whole, considering the institutionalised racism within it, and what he’d experienced, but Im glad things have changed at least a bit. Cannot however fault his strong resilience over years of abuse in the police force which is incredibly admirable. A good man I guess!
June 30, 2022
It was as a crime squad officer at West End Central Police Station in the heart of London that I first met Norwell Roberts. I would know of his arrival at the station from a deep laugh that would boom across the canteen and echo through the corridors of Savile Row. His presence was visceral. And now, at long-last we have his very personal account of a life and police career as the Metropolitan Police’s first Black police officer.
Reading his autobiography ‘I am Norwell Roberts’, brought it all back: the prejudice that was rampant in 1970s policing, the shallowness and introversion of police culture and the lack of tenderness or respect for those who were different.
Norwell (Noz) Roberts retired from the Metropolitan Police in 1997 with thirty years of service and the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service. His book, just published, was long in gestation. In the first six chapters he takes the reader from his birth on the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla, his arrival in the UK in 1954, a challenging childhood in the London boroughs of Bromley and Camden, to joining the police in 1967. The darkness of his Black childhood is only overshadowed by his account of the response from fellow officers at Bow Street to the arrival of a Black police officer, and of those who, later in his career, betrayed their duty to a colleague.
Yet his story is one laced with many positive memories, of lasting friendships and astonishing achievement, a description enriched by his forgiveness. It provides a fascinating account that is massively relevant to today’s police service, for it provides important insight into how difficult life is when faced with prejudice. Perhaps Norwell Roberts’ autobiography should be added to the essential reading list for all police recruits, and for those seeking promotion within the service?
Reading his autobiography ‘I am Norwell Roberts’, brought it all back: the prejudice that was rampant in 1970s policing, the shallowness and introversion of police culture and the lack of tenderness or respect for those who were different.
Norwell (Noz) Roberts retired from the Metropolitan Police in 1997 with thirty years of service and the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service. His book, just published, was long in gestation. In the first six chapters he takes the reader from his birth on the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla, his arrival in the UK in 1954, a challenging childhood in the London boroughs of Bromley and Camden, to joining the police in 1967. The darkness of his Black childhood is only overshadowed by his account of the response from fellow officers at Bow Street to the arrival of a Black police officer, and of those who, later in his career, betrayed their duty to a colleague.
Yet his story is one laced with many positive memories, of lasting friendships and astonishing achievement, a description enriched by his forgiveness. It provides a fascinating account that is massively relevant to today’s police service, for it provides important insight into how difficult life is when faced with prejudice. Perhaps Norwell Roberts’ autobiography should be added to the essential reading list for all police recruits, and for those seeking promotion within the service?
July 2, 2022
I wanted to read this book after seeing him talk about it on TV. But I have to say that didn’t prepare me for the most shocking racism he had to endure when he joined the force and indeed throughout his time in the police. It made me feel really sad that someone as decent and kind as he was and bloody good at his job had to fight so hard to prove himself all the time. Even ignoring his paperwork when he went for a promotion. I hope those people are still about to read this and feel so ashamed of what they did here. Even when they made a film about it they didn’t consult him so that wasn’t a true representation of how things happened, and he was ignored when he tried to offer any advice. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time for very sad reasons. Very well read.
February 1, 2023
I have immense respect for Mr Roberts, for his courage and determination to do his job in the face of horrendous racist abuse. I don't think I can put into words how disgusted and horrified I am by the racist abuse he suffered.
He wrote that he wrote this book to "describe how things were...so that we can learn from them". I think there will be lessons for everyone in this book, particularly as he reflects on his experiences and describes what he learnt from them, which stimulates reflection in the reader.
He is honest and describes how the racist abuse he experienced drove him to tears at times. I'm not surprised, reading about it made me cry and I rarely cry about things I read (although I mostly read fiction and it's different when you are reading about something that actually happened).
He comes across as a decent, generous, humorous guy who was dedicated to upholding the law and the sort of person who would be a credit to any police force. He was obviously very good at his job and I can't help but wonder how far he would have gone, had he not had to deal with all of the hostility and discrimination he had to face, which included senior officers blocking his application for promotion.
He wrote that he wrote this book to "describe how things were...so that we can learn from them". I think there will be lessons for everyone in this book, particularly as he reflects on his experiences and describes what he learnt from them, which stimulates reflection in the reader.
He is honest and describes how the racist abuse he experienced drove him to tears at times. I'm not surprised, reading about it made me cry and I rarely cry about things I read (although I mostly read fiction and it's different when you are reading about something that actually happened).
He comes across as a decent, generous, humorous guy who was dedicated to upholding the law and the sort of person who would be a credit to any police force. He was obviously very good at his job and I can't help but wonder how far he would have gone, had he not had to deal with all of the hostility and discrimination he had to face, which included senior officers blocking his application for promotion.
July 16, 2025
I was 20 years behind Norwell in joining the Police. In my entire service (Not the Met) i only ever heard one racist comment. I never witnessed any overt racism. That is probably down to people like Norwell who were pioneers. When I joined my Northern force of 3400 officers, we had a handful of black officers and possibly 20 Asian officers. The book is not greatly written and it does become a bit of a self publicising account, but it paints a grim picture of what life was like for Norwell. All probationers were treated terribly and it is sometimes hard to distinguish what was racism and what was what everyone got. An example in the book is when a senior officer doesn't put Norwell forward for a specialist department, that happens and happened to me and everyone else. Norwell puts it down as racism but gives no evidence to back this up. On the whole though a good read of a distinguished and worthy career. Thank you for your service Sir.
September 16, 2022
A very moving and educational look at the personal struggles against racism and the career of Norwell Roberts. Reading this was a fascinating window into the past. Norwell's good humour and reflective nature provided great guiding insights into his views as the times and attitudes towards Black people changed within the Met and society. I thoroughly recommend this read to anyone with an interest in the life of a formidable trailblazer.
August 12, 2023
On your shoulders we stand
It's always sad to read about the racism in large organisations who are there to protect the public. I also feel sad that you can be hated because of the colour of your skin. Whether you are the first or fiftieth black cop racism is wrong. To all the haters, thank your lucky stars racism wasn't on the other foot. Sharing your story and completing 30 years with honours and distinction is a testament to the great cop you were.
It's always sad to read about the racism in large organisations who are there to protect the public. I also feel sad that you can be hated because of the colour of your skin. Whether you are the first or fiftieth black cop racism is wrong. To all the haters, thank your lucky stars racism wasn't on the other foot. Sharing your story and completing 30 years with honours and distinction is a testament to the great cop you were.
October 29, 2022
This was a really interesting and well put together memoir that read more like a conversation with Roberts than a list of every event in his life. If you want some input into Black history in Britain through the eyes of someone at the forefront of change, this is a great book to pick up.
June 6, 2022
In 1967, Norwell Roberts became a poster boy for British policing, becoming the first Black police officer in the Met. Even when facing prejudice and hindrance from within the force, he was determined to stick with the job. Recounting and reflecting on his life, from childhood in the West Indies to receiving recognition from royalty, Roberts speaks candidly about his experiences.
'...my shoulders were broad enough for others to stand on - I'm proud to have helped to prepare the path that others walked.' 51%
There is a considered and balanced tone used throughout, which shows that Roberts is not just someone writing because they have a story to share- he can write too. Occasionally the topic feels stilted between the paragraphs, but, on the whole, the narrative is clear. He even manages to incorporate some humour.
The regularly humble nature of Roberts is enjoyable to read about. He recognises and appreciates the role he played in influencing the police force but never denies that he is also just part of a larger incentive. This is evident in his mentions of other men who could be classed as 'The First Black/mixed-race Policeman'.
'...the debate around who was 'the first' matters far less than the question of whether others were able to follow in their footsteps.' 99%
Roberts comments upon past and present policing, highlighting areas that require change, or simply modernisation. He is not afraid to mention drives or campaigns that he disagrees with, always articulating why and giving alternatives to achieve the goal.
Frequently there are mentions of the press and specific UK publications, which feel a touch repetitive when mentioned so often in such a short book. However, this comes from reading forty years of someone's life in a condensed timeline; presumably, the incidents with the press are more noteworthy than the regular days at work. There is a stronger focus on his childhood and upbringing than expected but this supports his later experiences, giving context to his beliefs and sense of hard work.
An epilogue can make or break a read; it should summarise points made and address any questions a reader still has. This book does this perfectly. The reading of this prompted many interesting discussions about Roberts' actions, Using the benefit of distance in all forms to assess the situation. Namely, whether he should have spoken out more in the 60s & 70s. It's easy to critique actions when not involved but that's what makes reading these books so fascinating; they force one to reflect. Roberts himself discusses his role, eloquently describing how he wasn't aiming to be a race activist, merely, and always, a man doing a job.
'Some people might think I didn't shout loud enough early on, but there was no one to shout to.' 99%
'...my shoulders were broad enough for others to stand on - I'm proud to have helped to prepare the path that others walked.' 51%
There is a considered and balanced tone used throughout, which shows that Roberts is not just someone writing because they have a story to share- he can write too. Occasionally the topic feels stilted between the paragraphs, but, on the whole, the narrative is clear. He even manages to incorporate some humour.
The regularly humble nature of Roberts is enjoyable to read about. He recognises and appreciates the role he played in influencing the police force but never denies that he is also just part of a larger incentive. This is evident in his mentions of other men who could be classed as 'The First Black/mixed-race Policeman'.
'...the debate around who was 'the first' matters far less than the question of whether others were able to follow in their footsteps.' 99%
Roberts comments upon past and present policing, highlighting areas that require change, or simply modernisation. He is not afraid to mention drives or campaigns that he disagrees with, always articulating why and giving alternatives to achieve the goal.
Frequently there are mentions of the press and specific UK publications, which feel a touch repetitive when mentioned so often in such a short book. However, this comes from reading forty years of someone's life in a condensed timeline; presumably, the incidents with the press are more noteworthy than the regular days at work. There is a stronger focus on his childhood and upbringing than expected but this supports his later experiences, giving context to his beliefs and sense of hard work.
An epilogue can make or break a read; it should summarise points made and address any questions a reader still has. This book does this perfectly. The reading of this prompted many interesting discussions about Roberts' actions, Using the benefit of distance in all forms to assess the situation. Namely, whether he should have spoken out more in the 60s & 70s. It's easy to critique actions when not involved but that's what makes reading these books so fascinating; they force one to reflect. Roberts himself discusses his role, eloquently describing how he wasn't aiming to be a race activist, merely, and always, a man doing a job.
'Some people might think I didn't shout loud enough early on, but there was no one to shout to.' 99%
June 14, 2022
A very good book about Englands. first black police officer his story of how hard it was a sad and very difficult situation to find yourself in but it shows the strength of the man he had a great heart and a very friendly and funny sense of humour
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews