Nigerian Victor Olisa Appointed First Black Police Commander in London

Chief Superintendent Victor Olisa, a U.K.-based Nigerian police officer with the London Metropolitan police, has been appointed the first black borough commander for Bexley Police, in the United Kingdom. He assumed office on April 16 and is tasked with overseeing all policing matters in the area. Olisa, who is 52 years old, was born in Warri, Delta State, Southern Nigeria, and is one of the three chief superintendents from black minority ethnic backgrounds working for the Metropolitan Police. He started his career in Surrey Police in 1982, taking on the role of sergeant in 1985, before transferring to the City of London Police in 1990 as detective inspector in the Fraud Squad. He then became chief inspector in 2003, before working in the race unit at the Home Office. He was transferred to the Metropolitan police in 2006 as a superintendent in Southwark Council before his recent appointment. Olisa, whose grandfather was a police officer in Nigeria, said his focus was on the job rather than on being the first ‘black person’ to hold the position. “Policing runs in the family and I have always wanted to be a police officer and ethnicity does not affect that. I consider myself first and foremost a police officer. If (being black) is an advantage, then brilliant; If it’s a disadvantage, I will have to deal with that, I can’t hide it,” Olisa told reporters in London, after his appointment. He said a lot was being done to address racism within the force, adding that it was the responsibility of the force to correct wrongs and not an institution for people with racist views. “I am impeccably against anyone who uses racist language or behaves in a racist manner. This will not be allowed under my watch…I believe that everyone should be treated with dignity wherever they come from,” Olisa said. Chief Superintendent Victor Olisa lives in Surrey, with his physiotherapist wife and two teenage children.

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This article was first published on 30th May 2012 and updated on June 1st, 2012 at 11:49 am

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