BLACK HISTORY SPOTLIGHT Fay Sislen Allen Britains first black policewoman

Fri, 25 Dec 2020 15:37:49 +0000

Each week we discuss Black History. This weeks discussion is about Britains first black Female Police Officer.
The sight of a dark-skinned young woman dressed in a police uniform, with a solid Jamaican timbre, patrolling the streets of south London in 1968 was a shock to residents.

It was Sislin Fay Allen, Britain's first black policewoman.

Fifty-two years after Mrs Allen overcame the odds in a profession where she was subjected to racism, she told Sky News that Britain has "a long way to go" to tackle race inequality.

At her home in St Ann on the north coast of Jamaica, overlooking Ocho Rios, she showed me a letter written in 1972 by former prime minister Michael Manley congratulating her on her achievements.