Born to Windrush-generation, West Indian parents and subsequently brought up in a children’s home, Fairmile Hatch, a former stately home. Michael’s early education and moral values emanated from the love and humanity of his housemother ‘Auntie Margaret’, who looked after him throughout his childhood. Unbeknown to him at the time, his time as a child in the care system and the self-reliance that it taught him, would prove to be important grounding for life. Despite this unconventional and rather insecure upbringing Michael knew early on that he wanted to be a police officer. He tells a powerful, thought provoking story of overcoming adversity where in London during the 1980s racism was a constant threat . In joining the police service he faced many difficult situations, from prejudice from members of the public; as well as insults from other black British citizens (who saw him as a traitor); and, bigotry from certain white colleagues within the force. Despite this, he remained positive and resilient working on the frontline in London’s most volatile estates and had a pivotal role in Operation Trident, tackling gun crime and gang warfare. He rose through the ranks of the Met to go onto become Britain’s first ever black Chief Constable in Kent in 2007. “Kill The Black One First” A memoir of hope and justice is an inspirational story about hope, resilience and persistence and one mans quest to belong.