Jenny's parents were part of the Windrush generation. Her father from St Vincent and her mother British Guiana. As a child Jenny remembers her father winning the football pools which meant they could buy a house in Ilford.
Jenny initially worked for the Caribbean times and was a PA to the editor. She was able to meet several black activists who had an influence on her in later life. Having been made redundant she decided that she wanted to join the police.
Having found the number in the “Yellow Pages” she called New Scotland Yard and called. Jenny was invited at once to the yard. Within six months she had been accepted. Jenny experienced adverse racist comments from the security guard.
Following training she was posted to Vine Street. She was taken to meet the borough commander whose opening gambit was to ask one of the male members if they masturbate!
As a probationer she was paired up with an officer who clearly had no time for her. She was unable to establish if it was because she was a probationer, black or a female or a combination of all 3.
Jenny experienced discriminatory language that her Sgt considered to be acceptable, he stated that it was his way of “Toughening her up”. People were openly racist and when that stopped, they became more sexist.
Jenny recalls the murder of Yvonne Fletcher in April 1984. On that day she was visiting a police station and following the shooting of Yvonne a well-meaning friend called Jenny`s mum to ask after her welfare which caused some concerns.
Jenny worked at NCIS and TSG – When she was posted to the drug squad her colleagues believed that she was “A Spy”, they had read a file and there was a memo relating to jenny and the Black Police Association.
Jenny discusses her views regarding Stop and Search and her personal experiences.
Its clear that Jenny is a person who has high standards and truly believes that the police should deal with the problems that senior management has caused. She is an advocate of getting the right person for the job and diversity should be part of recruitment process.
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