What is the NBPA About ?

The objective of the National Black police Association (NBPA) is to promote good race relations and equality of opportunity within the police services of the United Kingdom and the wider community.

What does the NBPA do ?

The NBPA works to place the Association at the heart of the Police Agenda. We do this by taking forward initiatives for the Progression of minority officers and staff ; such as mentoring schemes, natural born leadership programme, women in policing projects. The NBPA has a high Profile within the Home Office and Government Strategic Committees. We hold bi-lateral monthly meetings with the Minister. As well as sitting on a range of decision-making steering groups, we have regular meetings with the Heads of HMIC, ACPO, NCTT. Federation, UNISON, BAWP, GPA, DPN. The Performance of the NBPA is recorded and documented to provide the widest sharing of information and learning. All the work of the Cabinet members and administrative team are governed by our set of Policies and Procedures to ensure transparency and accountability. Nationally the loss of Black staff from the service was at alarming level. In 1990 a joint initiative between black staff within the Metropolitan Police in London and a specialist support unit specialising in community and race relations training based in Turvey Bedfordshire raised concerns about staff wastage. This led to a meeting of Black staff from the Metropolitan Police. This meeting known as the Bristol Seminars led to the formation of a black support network. Other BME officers had met in other environments and discovered a commonality of issues.

The Metropolitan Black Police association then formed following discussions between black staff and the MPS. The association, which formed in September 1994, was launched by the then MPS Commissioner.

At the launch the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police said,

"I have made it clear where I stand. I see the formation of this Association as the only way forward".

From its inception it has sought to highlight issues facing Black staff in the Police Service, helping those in need of support by lending a listening ear and giving advice.

With networking capabilities of BME officers and staff word quickly spread across the country, resulting in a wide range of interest from Black staff members from other forces. This interest was not allowed to dissipate and individuals from the provincial services together with the Metropolitan Police staff came together for a number of meetings in 1994 - 1995. The meetings were held at the then Home Office Specialist Support Unit in Turvey where the notion of a National BPA was nurtured and the transition from informal networking to strategic national communication network took place.

In October 1996 with interest having grown across the country in the work of the BPA, a National Communication Network was formed. This network consisted of Black staff members spanning the length and breadth of the country. It was quickly realised that the only way forward was to form a national association, speaking with "ONE VOICE, STRENGTH IN UNITY". The country was then divided into three regions with a co-ordinator for each region.

In early 1998 officers and staff met with RT HON Jack Straw then Home Secretary to discuss the role of BPA's. The meeting resulted in tangible support with regular meetings between Home Office staff and the National Communication Network.

In November 1998 the National Black Police Association became a reality when an interim executive was elected to take the association to launch. The executive committee was comprised of 14 executive members from 12 Constabularies.

The past holders included a Chair, Deputy Chair, General Secretary and Treasurer. In addition to the executive committee a NBPA co-ordinator was appointed.

The then Home Secretary, the Rt. Hon Jack Straw, gave full support to the NBPA voicing this in many public forum and was instrumental in negotiating the NBPA office situated within the Home Office building.

The BPA's continue to grow nationally as do similar organisations within other public sector organisations.