"I'm one of only 34 black females in the force": Top West Midlands Police officer looks back at 29 years on the beat

In her final year as a Superintendent at West Midlands Police, our Chief Reporter Megan Jones has been catching up with Karen Geddes on her career and what she thinks about being one of only 34 black females in the force.

How did your journey into policing start?

15th January 1992 was when I joined the police, so 29 years ago and my journey started quite simply.

I was working in a KFC and during a break I was reading a newspaper and I saw an ad and it simply asked, "could you make a difference?" and I thought, why not?

I thought "yeah I could do this" so I applied and I got into policing and that's how my journey started.

What was it like when you started out?

Surreal is probably the word to use.

So, when I joined and we went to training in Ryton, I was one of only two black female officers in the training college.

When I went out on the beat in Birmingham where I was first posted, somebody like me wasn't really the norm.

One of the things I enjoy most about my policing career is going out on the beat, just walking, we don't get to do that much when you go up the ranks, but it's one of the things I enjoyed most.

How has it changed through the years?

Covid has obviously had a major impact.

One of the things I do is, I chair the Black and Asian Police Association and prior to Covid we used to do a lot of community events.

The reception has been absolutely fantastic, people want to see themselves reflected in the organisation.

There are times when it's challenging, when things happen.

There are issues around racism, and events that have had a negative impact on the black community.

How do you want people to help make a difference?

Still when I walk round West Midlands Police, I don't see myself reflected in the organisation.

I know West Midlands Police have done a lot to attract black and minority ethnic officers to join the organisation but it saddens me, as I look to retire there's only 34 black female officers in West Midlands Police.

I just think back to what I've been able to do, the contribution to my community, the people I've been able to help, I just hope to be able to inspire and encourage other members of my community to consider policing as a career.

I think we recruit a lot of police staff who are black females but putting that uniform on, there still seems to be a barrier around that.

For me, it's a final opportunity, in my last year, to try and get as many black females into policing as I can.

Why do you think there's some hesitancy to join?

There's perception of racism, historically with Stephen Lawrence, and events that have happened more recently, George Flloyd, even though that happened in America, it still has a visible impact on policing in the UK.

There's a cultural perception that policing isn't for a black person and it isn't the first go to career.

There's also a lack of understanding around the role and what it would involve.

For me, if people would just come and try and experience, I think they would be really surprised at how much it gives them.

What else could West Midlands Police be doing?

I think West Midlands Police have done a lot and have been at the forefront around a recruitment campaign.

And they've been quite positive and proactive in messaging to say they're looking to recruit from a diverse community.

I think there are things we can do to build trust and confidence.

I know there's a PCC Joint Strategy looking at things that might have an impact, like stop and search and use of force against black members of the community.

But, I think for me, one of the reasons I put out the tweet, was to reach out to the community and start to have that conversation around changing the approach to policing.

In order to change the organisation, if you think the organisation is bad, you've got to be inside to change the structure.

As I see myself going out the door, for me that's one less person inside to be able to challenge and to be able to build a structure the community want to see.

Policing is doing a lot, there's more policing can do, but I think as a community we need to start changing the conversation around policing as a career for our black males and females.

What's your hope for West Midlands Police as you look to leave?

My hope is, in a years time, if I can see the numbers of black, ethnic minority recruits increase.

Progression is also important, because it's hard to be, what you can't see.

One of the things that would be helpful would be to see more black and minority officers at strategic levels.

I would hope to see, perhaps aspirationally, the first black or minority Chief Constable in West Midlands Police.

I've never seen that.

As I leave, I leave knowing that in recent months there's been a concerted effort to do more.

We've moved forward, we've taken a positive step, I hope we continue on that upwards trajectory.

What are you doing over the next year before you retire?

I will continue being visible in promoting police.

My aspiration is, if I can encourage at least a couple more black females to come into the organisation, that's what I'm going to continue to do.

I'm going to start looking forward to exiting police and to start a new chapter outside....

...and I'm going to continue to support the Baggies, even though they're rubbish.

Toni Williams, who is leading the West Midlands Police recruitment uplift programme, said:

“Karen has always been a passionate advocate for policing and encouraging others, from all of our communities across the West Midlands, to consider how they could really make a difference by joining us.

“We are currently part way through a major recruitment drive that will see us recruit around 2,800 officers by 2023. It is hugely important to us that we reflect the communities we serve in order for communities to see that we are really here for them.

“Applications from people who tell us they are members of Caribbean or African black communities are lower than we would like and we know there is work to do to encourage more people from those communities, and other under-represented groups, to consider policing as a career option for them.

“Our Positive Action team works hard with schools, colleges, universities, job centres, community groups and places of worship to increase understanding and awareness, dispel myths and to help people find pathways that may lead to a career with us.

"Our advertising campaigns are inclusive and we aim to reach out to the many different communities who live and work in this region to possibly see themselves as part of the WMP family, one day.

“For those not in a position to join us, due to eligibility criteria around education or other matters, we encourage them to speak to us as we have options to support people to get their qualifications and we can explain our policies and procedures in more detail.

“In short, we encourage people to visit our website and read more about what policing offers."

Last year, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson committed "to ensuring that the force recruits 1,000 new BAME police officers over the next three years to accelerate plans to make the force look more like the communities it serves."

In a statement released in June 2020, he said:

"Over the next three years West Midlands Police numbers are set to increase by at least 1,200 officers.

"That will require 2,750 people to be recruited, to fill the gaps left behind by retirements and those leaving the force. The PCC wants to make sure that ‘1,000 of those new officers will be from BAME communities.’"

You can read more here.

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