John Kent (police officer)

John Kent (1795 – 19 July 1886) was a British police constable with the Carlisle City Police, and the first black police officer in Britain.^[1] He served seven years in the office of constable before being dismissed from his role in 1844. Until 2006, when a former officer of Cumbria Constabulary discovered Kent's employment records, it was thought that Britain's first black police officer was Norwell Roberts, who was an officer with the Metropolitan Police starting in 1966. The discovery has been heralded by the UK National Black Police Association as having "huge significance" as well as being "totally unexpected".^[1]

Family and early life

Kent was the son of Thomas Kent, an enslaved seaman who worked on the estate of a Cumberland colonial civil service worker in the West Indies. Kent's father accompanied the civil servant on his return to Whitehaven, England, where he was given his liberty. Kent's father worked at Abbey House, Calder Abbey, in the service of the Senhouse family, taking the role as a servant. It is suggested that Kent's father may have taken his surname from The Kent, a slave ship which he may have sailed upon, or the region of England where his ship finally docked. Thomas Kent married Mary Wilson in 1787 and the couple had ten children, one of whom was John Kent.^[1][2][3]

John Kent married a white woman, Mary from Longtown, and settled on Botchergate Street in 1841. He was described as a "quiet, inoffensive man" as well as a "big powerful man" who worked for the local authority, laying down paving slabs prior to joining the police.^[4][3]

Police career

Kent joined Carlisle City Police force as a supernumerary Constable on 17 August 1837, later being made a substantive Constable 26 October 1837. He was known amongst city residents as "Black Kent" during his service,^[1] and this nickname was used by adults to scare unruly children.^[4]

Kent was credited with several arrests. He provided several accounts in his later years, one of arresting two "coiners". After arresting one suspect, he handcuffed him to the fire grate in his own house. He left an unloaded pistol with his wife, telling her to shoot the prisoner if he tried to escape. Kent then apprehended the second outstanding suspect.^[4]

In 1841, he was policing an election crowd in the city centre when it became violent. As the crowd became more unruly, a police officer was struck on the head by one of the crowd and died. The matter was recorded as a murder and Kent provided evidence as part of the trial at Carlisle Assizes.^[1]

Police officers being drunk on duty was a common occurrence in the 19th century, as clean drinking water in the city was a rarity. On 6 December 1844, Kent arrived for duty while intoxicated. Owing to new policy, introduced by a new Chief Constable, to severely punish officers drunk on duty, Kent was instructed to attend a watch committee. He was later disciplined, and he was dismissed from the service on 12 December 1844.^[1]

Post-police service

Kent continued to work in Carlisle after leaving the police force. At the age of 88, he was recorded as being employed as an attendant in the service of the London and North Western Railway Companies, specifically working in the waiting rooms at Citadel station.^[4]

Death

Kent died on 19 July 1886 at his home in Henry Street, Carlisle, and was buried in Carlisle Cemetery. His obituary in the Carlisle Journal announced that "Black Kent is Dead" and the Carlisle Patriot described the passing of Kent as "The Death of a Carlisle Notable".^[4]

References