“I’m proud to be following in the footsteps of my Black police heroes”

At a time when scrutiny of the Metropolitan Police is high, one officer is sharing his story in the hope that more Black people will join the force.

Acting Police Sergeant Richard Gayle started his career as a neighbourhood police officer in Lewisham before moving to his current role in the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

He said: “From my time in Lewisham to my current role, I’ve never looked back and I feel proud to know that every day I am helping keep people safe.”

The 30-year-old hails Black police officers, including his father and his great uncle, for inspiring him to protect his community.

Sgt Gayle’s great uncle Etienne was having lunch with friends in his home island of St Lucia when he was shot repeatedly and fatally in the back by an unknown assailant.

He had had ambitions to become a chief superintendent and was known for his vision of fighting police corruption from the inside.

Sgt Gayle said: “He was a superintendent and had devoted more than 30 years of his life to protecting others as a police officer when he was murdered, age 49.

“I wasn’t even a twinkle in my parents’ eyes at the time but great uncle Etienne later became an inspiration for me when I was starting out in the police, finding the courage to run toward danger where others would flee it.

“My number one icon is my dad, who joined the Met when I was five years old.

“I remember, on a balmy May day in 1996, holding my mum’s hand as I watched dad, dressed crisply in a black tunic, trousers, white gloves and the iconic “custodian” police helmet, proudly march alongside other new constables at his passing out parade.

“Dad’s whole career was before him – although it was sadly cut short five years later when he was injured while on duty.

“Dad was one of very few Black officers on parade that day and to me he outshone everyone. He was my hero.

“I knew then that I wanted to be a police officer too.”

Sgt Gayle became a Volunteer Police Cadet when he turned 13, and later applied to be a Met police constable when he was old enough.

He was initially based in Lewisham, where he worked in a number of roles for almost three years, including as a dedicated ward officer – which was his favourite role as he got to attend and host community events, where he provided crime prevention advice and helped build local community confidence in the police.

He said: “Nineteen years after watching my dad “pass out”, I was the one wearing the tunic, gloves and helmet, while mum and dad proudly cheered me on as I marched across Hendon training ground – with notably more Black colleagues than in dad’s day.

“Since joining “the Job” I’ve had the honour of meeting pioneering Black police officers including Sislin Faye Allen, the first Black female police officer in the UK and the Met, and Gamal ‘G’ Turawa, the first openly gay Black Met officer, who was doubly inspiring to me as I’m also gay.

“Having family members in the police, I never saw my heritage as a barrier to pursuing my career, but lots of people who’d be amazing cops don’t have the same fortune or, worse still, have had negative experiences with police.

“You can’t be what you can’t see, so I hope that by proudly telling my story, I will encourage other Black men and women to join the police and make themselves, their families and their communities proud – and safe.”