Living History:

Dr David Michael

Dr David Michael served in the Metropolitan Police for 30 years
where he was the first black Police Officer in Lewisham.

This year is the 200 anniversary of the Act of Parliament abolishing the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the arrival of new communities from the Caribbean on the Empire Windrush to this country. In October we celebrate Black History Month or Black History Season as I prefer to call it. We have a plethora of events, activities, programmes and information at our disposal. It cannot be argued that resources at various levels are not directed towards these events. But are we reaching the mark. Are we harnessing our resources in every sense to the best advantage?

The past few weeks and months have brought us to the sharp focus on vulnerable young people falling prey to gun, knife, drug and gang related crime. Individual families and communities have felt the pain and anguish. Endless statements have been made by national and local politicians. So called, community leaders and many others give their commentary on cause and effect. The press and media are have had a field day with sensational headlines, fuelling the fear and hopelessness. There is a culture of doom and gloom where people who should know better perpertuate the myth that there are no role models, especially in the black community. They weigh in with the commentary about absent black fathers without acknowledging the complex historical, social and environmental conditions that contribute to a time of crisis for our children, young people and communities.

It does not have to be so. I argue the solutions are not solely in the hands of central and local Government, chief Police Officers and the like. The solutions are in our very hands. Us parents, families, extended families, communities all working together with churches, faith groups, schools, statutory, voluntary and charitable organisations. The solutions are us working across all communities together as one community. I take serious issue with the senior politicians who on the one hand talk about community cohesion and in the next breath perpetuate disunity by singling out the Muslim, black or African Caribbean communities for their derision.

We should all work together to make our communities safe and healthy places to be. Polarising and demonising specific communities or sections of specific communities is totally counter productive to any form of community cohesion, good citizenship and racial harmony. I know there to be many role models or ‘Goal models’ I prefer to say, as propounded by Dr William (Lez) Henry a local stalwart in the borough of Lewisham. To the doubting and disparaging politicians and newspaper editors, yes there are actually many black, African Caribbean role models, if you would only be honest enough and make the time to see them and acknowledge their existence. But some of us are not looking for your acknowledgement and approval to make our contribution.

I am a motivational and inspirational speaker and as part of the Aboliton 200, approaching anniversary of Empire Windrush and Black History Season, I offer my Living History Presentation and Photo Exhibition. This covers my 30 proud and productive years in the Metropolitan Police Service. I cover my life as the first black Police Officer in Lewisham borough in modern history at a time when there were only 11 black police officers in the whole of London out of 28000. I always make the qualification modern history because of how selectively some history has been written. I love the African proverb, “If we stand tall, it’s because we stand tall on the shoulders of those who came before us”. So I pay tribute to the black police officers who joined the Metropolitan Police and the wider British Police Service before me and my contemporaries of the early 1970’s.

I illuminate the range and scope of the duties I covered in three decades of policing and my life as a Scotland Yard Detective. I talk about my role as one of the founders and early Chairs of the first Black Police Association in the United Kingdom and how this enabled and empowered many others to have pride in and celebrate their cultural and historical heritage, while maintaining a totally professional outlook on their chosen career. I address current concerns on policing, community safety, the Criminal Justice Service and the rule of law. I cover aspects of Policing Terrorism, the impact of gun, knife, drug and gang related crime and other topical subjects of interest to the community.

The overall aim is to leave people with a sense of what has been achieved, being positive about looking for and achieving solutions to problematic situations. Also empowering and enabling our young people to be proud of their achievements and to continue to strive for excellence.

To book the presentation with Dr David Michael or for further information, please call 07930 302 809 or E-mail: info@dmichael.co.uk

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