Mel Thomas Sergeant Leicestershire Police - Dealing with racism and being resilient

Mel Thomas is a Sergeant in the Leicestershire Police and has been in the police force proudly for almost 30 years. Born in Leicester to parents from Antigua a Caribbean island. Mel joined the police force in 1991 at age 22. And has subsequently gone on to wonderful satisfying career in Tactical Support, Armed Response Vehicle and Tactical Firearms Unit. He has been a Specialist Trainer at the National Police Training Centre. He has been trained as a Public Order officer and took up duties at major events such as carnivals EDL marches, 2012 Olympic Games. He was alas tactical advisor at festival attended by almost 200,000 people and the famous 5000-1 premier league winners Leicester city fc victory parade attended by almost 300,000 fans. He is also a personal fitness trainer and has competed in boxing for the police. Yet during those years Mel came across a lot of racism within the police force that affected his mental health. He talks about the need for the black community to challenge the narrative and join the police force otherwise the police force will remain for ever having racist views This is Mel Thomas..,.