Bexley Police's new borough commander talks race, policing priorities and Olympics

12:52pm Thursday 19th April 2012 in News By Abigail Woodcock

Chief Supt Olisa started his career in Surrey Police in 1982 Chief Supt Olisa started his career in Surrey Police in 1982

BEXLEY Police have a new top cop taking over the role of borough commander. ABIGAIL WOODCOCK talks race, policing priorities and the Olympics with the first black man to take over the position.

HE MAY be Bexley’s first black borough commander, but Chief Superintendent Victor Olisa considers himself first and foremost a police officer.

The 52-year-old, who lives in Surrey with his physiotherapist wife and two teenage children, says his ethnicity does not affect the way he does the job.

Chief Supt Olisa took over as borough commander from Chief Supt Dave Stringer last week and is tasked with overseeing all policing matters in the area.

He is one of only three chief superintendents of black minority ethnic backgrounds working for the Met.

Chief Supt Olisa, whose grandfather was a police officer in Nigeria, said: “People asked me when I was the first black police officer for Surrey police what that was like but I think the focus should be on the job I’m doing.

“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.

“Policing runs in the family - I have always wanted to be a police officer and ethnicity does not affect that.”

Chief Supt Olisa started his career in Surrey Police in 1982 before transferring to the City of London Police in 1990 as detective inspector in the Fraud Squad.

After a spell working at the Home Office, he transferred to the Met in 2006 as Southwark’s superintendent.

Before moving to Bexley, he was found taking the lead on the Met’s Stop and Search Team.

Looking ahead to his time in the borough, the new top cop says his priorities will be primarily safety driven.

Related links

He said: “Safety stands out without a shadow of a doubt.

“It’s not restricted to any particular group- I want safety for young people so they can attend school in peace and for elderly people.”

He added: “I also want to work with partners - churches, businesses and the private and public sector - to provide a service to residents and visitors.

“I want to make people’s lives the best we can.”

Talking Olympics, the Chief Supt says policing during the Games will be a testing time for the borough’s police force. He said: “One of our biggest challenges here is that the number of officers under my command is less than in Southwark.

“On top of that we have a commitment to send officers centrally to work on the Olympics which will reduce the number of officers we have.

“The officers left behind will have to work harder.

“We will tap into specials and volunteers.”

When he’s not at work, Chief Supt Olisa coaches his 13-year-old son’s football team and enjoys his season ticket for Manchester United.

THE Met has recently faced criticism over racism within the ranks, with Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe pledging to drive out racist police officers from the force.

Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, Peter Smyth said: “People from ethnic backgrounds who reach senior roles will restore confidence that we are not a racist organisation.

“We have always promoted the idea that there should be more people at senior ranks who represent the people they serve.”

Comments(21)

Witchkid says...
2:59pm Thu 19 Apr 12

If somebody is good at their job, it shouldn't matter what race or colour they are! I notice that was the first question NS asked him though......

Report this post »

The Original Ranter says...
5:19pm Thu 19 Apr 12

No questions on 'stop & search' policy?

"Before moving to Bexley, he was found taking the lead on the Met’s Stop and Search Team..."

Might have been an interesting question amongst all the other dross.

Report this post »

mouthalmighty says...
6:15pm Thu 19 Apr 12

Let's give him a chance. He Is obviously ambitious and caring. A good combination in my books. Let's hope he can get bexley on track to being a decent place to live in.

Report this post »

mouthalmighty says...
6:20pm Thu 19 Apr 12

Let's give him a chance. He Is obviously ambitious and caring. A good combination in my books. Let's hope he can get bexley on track to being a decent place to live in.

Report this post »

shergars ghost says...
10:18pm Thu 19 Apr 12

I know this guy, he is genuine, unpretentious and sincere, he will be a great benefit to the residents of Bexley.

Report this post »

The Gypo Returns ! says...
11:41am Fri 20 Apr 12

Strange our resident BNP clowns and their sockpuppets wont touch this story.
Come on Karl and Tony theres a black face on a story where's your snide comments. Typical of you cowards. Same as the Dave Courtney sons murder story, ya never went near that one either. Gutless cowards that you are.

Well done Mr Olisa and more power to you.

Report this post »

nigelsmithers says...
4:59pm Sun 22 Apr 12

what the hell is going on !! ?? this is bexley !! not bloody tottenham !!
love and kisses

rigsby xxx

Report this post »

bible scoffer says...
10:11am Mon 23 Apr 12

...good luck to victor!! very welcome indeed... put that in ya pipe 'mr. racist username' rofl!!

Report this post »

The Gypo Returns ! says...
11:03am Mon 23 Apr 12

I'm sure Vic will be pleased with your welcome Karl the BNP sockpuppet. Where's Tony today, busy flogging insurance or has he got a garage conversion on the go ?


Vic if you would like to send Karl a thankyou card I'll send you his address or you can find it on the 'leaked' BNP list where all the racists were outed.

THAnK YoU. ROFL

Report this post »

bible scoffer says...
9:53am Tue 24 Apr 12

...yes it's a tad chilly here in kent today - and pouring - but hey, i just lurve the british climate... and i hope you all had a jolly gud st. george's day yesterday!! :)

Report this post »

The Gypo Returns ! says...
11:26am Tue 24 Apr 12

" Few solid facts are known about St George but he is believed to have been born in Cappadocia, then part of Persia but now in Turkey, and had Christian parents. When he later became a Roman soldier in Palestine he kept his faith despite being jailed and tortured for making protests about the Roman persecution of Christians. The Romans cruelly executed him, and in 1222 the date for St Georges day was set, being celebrated in other parts of the world as well as England. His name is better known for the mythical slaying of dragons."

Oh no St George an immigrant, how can that be Karl ?

Report this post »

BigG says...
12:28pm Tue 24 Apr 12

If we haven't got enough officers at the moment, then how can they go and Police the Olympics and leave us with even less. Even the PCSO's have disappeared from my area, haven't seen any for months as apparently they are being pulled from areas that they are meant to patrol and put else where. How is that gonna help kids go to school with peace of mind? You need to change the law for that to happen, and Bexley bourough won't fund for more Police. Trouble is there are too many scumbags out there who have no respect for anyone other than themselves and are at the age of still getting slap on the wrist, no matter how many times they commit a offence, and they just take the P**s out of the PCSO's because they know they cannot do nothing to them. And my experiences with the Police is they only work 9to5 now. Not saying their fault but thats how it is because of cutbacks. Seems you get more benefits from the system by being a criminal nowdays. All force promises as usual.

Report this post »

carlos forme says...
10:20am Wed 25 Apr 12

carlos will increase police numbers and put a halt to the mountain of politically correct paperwork police officers have at present to fill in....... and....... fee public transport for all at weekends! .....x marks the spot!

Report this post »

The Gypo Returns ! says...
9:11pm Wed 25 Apr 12

In such a diverse city like London why would anyone in their right mind vote for a racist party like the BNP and Carlos C.
It would be like chickens voting for Colonel Sanders.

Report this post »

bible scoffer says...
9:50am Thu 26 Apr 12

The Gypo Returns ! wrote:
In such a diverse city like London why would anyone in their right mind vote for a racist party like the BNP and Carlos C. It would be like chickens voting for Colonel Sanders.
...why would anyone post for fifteen hours a day on da shopper forum pretending to be the people they keep dreaming of... unless they were mentally unbalanced ? aww... never mind... matron should be with you shortly for toilet duty clean-ups and more pills to pop!! duh... duh... gahh... garr... dribble... dribble!! rof...rof...rofl!! :)

Report this post »

The Gypo Returns ! says...
10:54am Thu 26 Apr 12

The bible scoffer, AKA Karl Daley, the man of a thousand user names, here on the NS, lots of other local rags, The Daily Wail, The Standard, etc etc, not to mention that fish wrap The BNPs paper The Voice of Freedom. You aint hard to spot ya moron Karl. ROFL

You really do think I'm Erastus, Tom etc don't ya idiot. You're so very wrong, but keep barking up the wrong tree it's hilarious.

Report this post »

miss rumble tumble says...
9:48am Fri 27 Apr 12

you can always tell when an election is imminent, the mainstream political parties start to steal other political parties clothes, "yes we'' get tough on immigration" "yes we'll get tough on criminals" "yes we'll reform the Human Rights act" ...don't vote for pale immitations !!

Report this post »

Justin Case3 says...
9:58am Fri 27 Apr 12

The Gypo Returns ! wrote:
The bible scoffer, AKA Karl Daley, the man of a thousand user names, here on the NS, lots of other local rags, The Daily Wail, The Standard, etc etc, not to mention that fish wrap The BNPs paper The Voice of Freedom. You aint hard to spot ya moron Karl. ROFL You really do think I'm Erastus, Tom etc don't ya idiot. You're so very wrong, but keep barking up the wrong tree it's hilarious.
plop!

Report this post »

The Gypo Returns ! says...
11:02am Fri 27 Apr 12

Justin Case3 wrote:
The Gypo Returns ! wrote:
The bible scoffer, AKA Karl Daley, the man of a thousand user names, here on the NS, lots of other local rags, The Daily Wail, The Standard, etc etc, not to mention that fish wrap The BNPs paper The Voice of Freedom. You aint hard to spot ya moron Karl. ROFL You really do think I'm Erastus, Tom etc don't ya idiot. You're so very wrong, but keep barking up the wrong tree it's hilarious.
plop!
None of us on here expect much more from you other than that.


Did it tax your brain 'cell' much ?

Report this post »

bible scoffer says...
10:32am Sat 28 Apr 12

The Gypo Returns ! wrote:
Justin Case3 wrote:
The Gypo Returns ! wrote: The bible scoffer, AKA Karl Daley, the man of a thousand user names, here on the NS, lots of other local rags, The Daily Wail, The Standard, etc etc, not to mention that fish wrap The BNPs paper The Voice of Freedom. You aint hard to spot ya moron Karl. ROFL You really do think I'm Erastus, Tom etc don't ya idiot. You're so very wrong, but keep barking up the wrong tree it's hilarious.
plop!
None of us on here expect much more from you other than that. Did it tax your brain 'cell' much ?
...i think 'j.c.3.' sumed up perfectly what the various 'scoff's' think of you 't.g.r.' ...you are a total and utter loser ( spelt right touran ? one of your other 'failed' names!! ) ...jeeze - get a life 'mr. racist username' - you know deep down you cannot change anyones views no matter how hard you try!! ...go on - you got the next fifteen hour shift to try!! me and 'lady scoff' will be watching and laffing as you post your replies!! rof...rof...rofl!! :) ;)

Report this post »

bible scoffer says...
1:35pm Sat 28 Apr 12

...best give this thread a miss eh ? rofl!!

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree