Rhiwbina Living Issue 55

The Man Who
Changed Everything
Rhiwbina's Derrick Hassan was the first serving black police officer
in the South Wales Police. This is his remarkable story
There's an old saying that reads:
'Before you judge a man,
walk a mile in his shoes.'
Back in 1972, Derrick Hassan was
walking many a mile around the
streets of Cardiff - and getting
judged in the process for doing the
job he'd only just started.
But Derrick wasn't the sort of man
to let the small voices of others
deter him from his life goals. His
voice was the one he listened to
and by doing so, he not only helped
keep the communities of Cardiff
safe, but he also stepped in the
history books forever.
Derrick's story started in 1947
during the worst winter snows for a
generation - he had to be dug from
his house before he could meet the
world. The family was based in the
docks area of Cardiff but they soon
moved to Ely, where Derrick and his
two younger brothers grew up.
Wife Ceri recalls Derrick's early
years as he tried to figure out what
he wanted to do with his life:
"He was very sporty and liked to
6
play cricket and rugby. After leaving
school, he joined the Merchant
Navy, travelling all over the world
and visiting places like Africa and
Asia. When he returned, he started
a carpentry job, repairing houses for
the council. He was 23 years old."
But it was 1972 when Derrick
decided to join the police force that
changed his life and the lives of
countless others who have followed
in his footsteps forever.
"Dad Moses was a leading member
of the Somali community in Cardiff
docklands," says Ceri. "Moses was
on the Watch Committee, that also
included some police officers and
they were keen to recruit a broader
diversity of officers."
Moses asked Derrick and his two
younger brothers if they would
like to join the police force. Derrick
agreed and on October 6th 1972,
Derrick pulled on the famous
uniform for the first time.
"The early days were tough for
him," says Ceri. "He did get a lot of
abuse. Derrick was the first black
officer to serve in the South Wales
Police and as such, he had no one
else to speak to about his worries
or concerns. He had colleagues
of course but insomuch as his
situation, he was completely on his
own - no one else had been in that
position before."
But Derrick took it all in his stride.
"He had flak from the criminals and
dare I say it, some of his own work
colleagues at the time. But he stood
up for himself.
"In those days, things were a little
different to the way they are now.
If an offender was being sent to
prison for a while, they'd turn to
Derrick and say 'Can you keep an
eye on the wife and kids while
I'm away?' Police officers were
respected by the crooks, even if
they were breaking the law."
Within the force, and even within
Cardiff's criminal underbelly,
Derrick quickly became liked and
respected. He went on to join the
CID, where he spent most of his
police career, and where he made