BAPA history booklet

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1999 – This year saw the conference that officially launched the National Black Police Association with a major event being held at the International Conference Centre in Birmingham. Founding members of WMBAPA have talked about how overwhelming it was to see so much support for local and national BPAs. National Black Police Association logo 2000 – During the early 2000s there was heightened suspicion around BAPA within the organisation and people didn’t want to publicise the fact they were members. Officers and staff outside of the organisation didn’t really understand what it was all about. There were many misconceptions around its aims and objectives and it was deemed divisive. It is fair to say that BAPA has not been universally welcomed within the service, although it has the full support of the Chief Constable and the goodwill of others. To the unenlightened, it has been seen as divisive, discriminatory and an attempt by black members to usurp the various functions of the unions and Police Federation. None of these held views could be further from the truth. The truth of the matter is, these views are exactly the reason why there is a crucial need for a Black Police Association. After suffering years of isolation, for which neither the service or staff associations, were able to cater fully for the unique needs of black members, BAPA’s function is one supplementing all the other support structures. In doing so, they also seek to forge closer links with the black community, creating a sense of real partnership which can only be for the benefit of the service as a whole. 2007 – With Sergeant Winston Christie as Chair and with the support of the AMP, BAPA went from strength to strength and really started enhancing perspectives within the police service and affecting change in key policies that could improve the prospects of BME officers, wherever they had been disadvantaged. Membership criteria are open to serving officers or support staff from Afro Caribbean or Asian origin. BAPA recognises the existence of other black organisations within and outside the Criminal Justice System and is keen to work with these organisations for the benefit of all. Ramesh and Tariq (detailed above as some of the first BME officers in the Midlands) were key founding members of WMBAPA. Below are the stories of the other founder members of WMBAPA and early BME influencers in the force. 8 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Black_Police_Association_(United_Kingdom) access 1/9/2016 9 http://www.nbpa.co.uk/about-us/history/ accessed 1/9/2016 14
The Future is Bright – the Future is BAPA Celebrating 50 Years of Black and Ethnic Minority Officers in the West Midlands and 20 Years of West Midlands Police Black and Asian Police Association Founder members and early influencers Stanford Will Bean joined WMP in 1975 and retired as a sergeant in 1999. He sadly died in 2007. Stan’s daughter Jennifer found a folder her father kept of his career achievements after he passed away - including his exemplary discharge certificate from the British Army. In this folder she found a copy of a report he had written to all Black and Asian police officers about the creation of a Black Police Association. The report is dated 29th November 1994. In the report, by way of introduction, Stan explained that he joined the force in 1975 aged 27, after completing 10 years exemplary military service. He explained that for all his service, it has been based in Birmingham (central & inner city). At 11 years’ service he was promoted to sergeant and posted to Queens Road. He then spent 6 years as a sergeant within the Community Service Department and then before he retired, the custody block at Steelhouse lane. He also explained that he had interest in working on the OSU and Scenes of Crime Department, but was unsuccessful in gaining attachments to those respective departments. Sergeant Stan Bean with Chief Constable Edward Crew In the report Stan stated ‘The police service has come a long way since 1975, but there is still room for improvement.’ He added ‘some of you might be reluctant to even contemplate forming a black police association in this force. Because of numerous reasons, for example you don’t want to be seen as a trouble maker, worried that joining an association would have a detrimental impact on career prospects.’ In his report Stan recognised the difficulties of creating and launching such an association, as many black officers are apprehensive about socialising with each other or even mixing with the black community. He wrote ‘a positive attitude is required from you because Black and Asian officers’ experiences inside and outside the service are unique’. 10 http://www.nbpa.co.uk/about-us/history/ accessed 1/9/2016 15
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