Published on | General
October marks Black History Month, and this year’s theme is ‘Honouring our communities’.
Throughout the month, we will be showcasing the stories and achievements of some of the Black officers who have shaped our history.
Week one featured Ralph Ramadhar the first Black officer to join the Birmingham City Police in 1966.
For week two, we turn the spotlight onto Herman Lokey, the first Black officer to volunteer for our Special Constabulary.
On 29 June 1968, 39-year-old British Rail signalman Herman Lokey was sworn in as a Special Constable at Victoria Law Courts in Birmingham and given the collar number C32.
Herman was the region’s first Black member of the Special Constabulary and when he was interviewed by the Birmingham Evening Mail, he shared that he wanted to be a ‘member of an active and useful organisation, benefiting the community’. He also spoke of his pride in being Birmingham’s first immigrant Special Constable, stating he would ‘do his best to uphold the fine traditions of the service’.
Years later, while reflecting on his time as a Special Constable with the WMP Heritage Team, Herman was asked if his life in the Constabulary had been difficult. He responded that he had been treated terribly by some of his colleagues. He recounted one particular day when he had been attending a call miles away from the station. Unbeknown to Herman, the other officers had taken the panda car, leaving him stranded at the scene with no transport and no option but to walk all the way back to the station. However, he noted this treatment was not because of his ethnicity – he was treated like this by the other officers because of his status as a Special.
Herman’s story reflects a deep sense of pride and community spirit. His passion and dedicated attitude as a Special Constable have helped pave the way for future generations. Specials play a vital role in our force today, actively supporting frontline policing and public safety – preventing, tackling and investigating incidents while building strong relationships within the communities they serve.
Images and information courtesy of ‘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’; Birmingham Daily Post Monday, 1 July 1968 and Birmingham Evening Mail Monday, 1 July 1968.