32 Facts About Norwell Roberts

Norwell Roberts eventually rose to the rank of Detective Sergeant.

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

Norwell Roberts's grandfather was a police sergeant, and three uncles were high-ranking officers, one of whom was awarded the Colonial Police Medal for his services.

Norwell Roberts's 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.

Norwell Roberts was left behind, to be raised by his strict preacher grandparents.

Norwell Roberts arrived at the port of Dover at nine years old, when his mother secured employment as a housemaid in London.

At home in Anguilla, Norwell Roberts' mother had run several neighbourhood shops but in London she took any domestic jobs she could get.

In 1956, Norwell Roberts was the only Black child in his primary school, and when he passed the eleven-plus, the headmistress told his mother that Norwell Roberts would not be going to grammar school because he had to 'learn the English ways'.

Norwell Roberts still carries the scar on his forehead, but never once complained to his mother, because he understood that she had been powerless to act.

In 1959, his mother remarried and moved to Camden Town, North London, where Norwell Roberts went to Haverstock Hill Comprehensive School.

Norwell Roberts did not have a good relationship with his stepfather and he left his London home when he was just fifteen years old.

In 1966, while working at Westfield College, Norwell Roberts responded to a newspaper advertisement and completed the police recruitment application form.

On 3 April 1967, when Norwell 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.

Under the scrutiny of the popular press of the time, Norwell Roberts completed his initial training at Hendon Police College.

Norwell Roberts stated about his early years with the Met that, "nobody should be subject to that treatment, ever".

Norwell Roberts was initially stationed at Bow Street Police Station, in Covent Garden, London, where the first words his reporting sergeant said to him were, "look you nigger, I'll see to it that you never pass your probation".

Norwell Roberts later claimed he would cope by weeping in the bath at the section house privately, since he feared showing weakness.

Norwell Roberts found the police station so hostile he would avoid eating with fellow officers, preferring to visit members of the community that invited him in for tea.

One sunny afternoon outside the Royal Opera House the driver of a police car passing Norwell Roberts shouted, "black cunt" and drove on while other colleagues in the car laughed and Norwell Roberts stood embarrassed in front of members of the public.

Norwell Roberts joined 'A' Relief and quickly became a popular member of the team due to his humour and dedication.

Norwell Roberts was disciplined verbally once for driving with fellow officers around the West End with a toilet roll hanging from the police van radio aerial.

Norwell Roberts's every move whether walking the beat or holding back protesters in Trafalgar Square hit newspaper headlines at home and abroad.

Norwell Roberts made tabloid cartoons and was even on the cover of Private Eye.

Norwell Roberts 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, Norwell Roberts was photographed linking arms with his colleagues during protests on the arrival of the South African rugby team at Twickenham.

Norwell 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.

Norwell 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.

Norwell Roberts has lived in Harrow with his wife Wendy since 1976.

Norwell Roberts is an active Freemason under the United Grand Lodge of England, initiated in 1985, and a member of Beauchamp Lodge No 1422 and Radlett Lodge No 6652 ; he is a member of the Holy Royal Arch and other Masonic orders.

Norwell 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.

In 1995, Norwell Roberts' was awarded the Queen's Police Medal for distinguished service.

On 15 March 1996, Norwell Roberts attended Buckingham Palace where he was presented with the medal by King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales.