Posts in category: Public Service Organisation

The Metropolitan Black Police Association (MetBPA) was formed in September 1994 and came at a time when Black and Asian Officers and Staff were a rarity and underrepresented in the MPS in the areas of Rank and Specialism.

The MetBPA endeavours to improve the working environment of black personnel within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the community. These aims will be achieved by:

• Providing a support network for black personnel
• Working towards improved relations between the police and the black community
• Working with London’s black youth to create young leaders and role models. 
• Assisting recruitment and reducing staff wastage 
• Proactively assist in the development and enhancement of MPS policy and strategy 
• Providing a social network 
• Working more closely with other staff associations and unions 

*Definition of Black – The term black does not relate to skin colour but is used to describe all people of African, African Caribbean or Asian origin.

The Association continues to be the communication tool and conduit for change, growth and development in an established organisation that seeks our input, point of reference and support. Our relationship within the MPS is one that provides and encourages constant dialogue on matters that affect us all. The MetBPA look toward to an inclusive and integrated relationship, where the objectives that we share with the wider Policing Community contribute to and enhance an improved and evolving MPS. 

The Metropolitan Black Police Association have been supporting ‘KickOff@3’ since its inception and continue to endorse their efforts to bring young people, communities and police together through the medium of sports, music and spoken word. 

la Munro, President of the National Black Police Association, spoke to us about his involvement with KickOff@3. Here is what he says. 

Policing is about helping people – usually this is in the context of them being victims of crime. However helping also includes explaining what we do and why we do it, preventing crime and giving people opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise experience.

Although the causes of crime are complex, it sometimes takes something as simple as finding what makes people tick, what interests them, something that is positive, focusing on that rather than the negative and building enduring relationships.

KickOff@3 does that, it helps young men and women focus on sports, and poetry and giving blood to help others – to look up, rather than to look down. KickOff@3 is a force for good that is so much more than football, and yet as simple as the game itself. It has the power to change lives and that is why I and the National Black Police Association are supporting it.