HINDUS UNITE IN THE METROPOLITAN POLICE
(10th December 2002)

Hindus within London's Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) have united to form the first Association of its kind for acting officers within the force. At an inaugural ceremony held last night in Harrow, Commander Cressida Dick, responsible for cultural diversity within the MPS, pledged support to the group and reiterated its importance in the force's recruitment drive among ethnic minorities.

The Metropolitan Police Hindu Association (MPHA) has been formed to provide assistance to Hindu staff by:

• Providing welfare, support and mentoring
• Improving recruitment and retention of Hindu employees by working in conjunction with police projects, policies and strategies.
• Reducing premature resignation of Hindu Employees
• Providing a network for social events.
• Acting as a source of information regarding Hindu Culture and religion to the MPS.
• Taking an active part in policy development.

Mahesh Nandha, Chairman of the MPHA, highlighted his own experiences of resigning from the MPS and returning. He feels that he and his ten colleagues in the MPHA are an essential part of the Met's policy of Positive Action. The committee already has a significant number of Hindu women representatives.

Deputy Chair, Taruna Mistry, hosted last night's launch introducing Nila Madhavdas of the Bhaktivedanta Manor (ISKCON) in Watford who briefly explained the essence of the Hindu religion and the Indian caste system. In September this year, Europe's largest Hindu temple, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden, also played host to a recruitment drive organised by the Met's Positive Action Team (PAT).

Inspector Mark Weaver, who heads PAT recruitment, said: "The main thrust of this event was educational, to inform the younger members of the Hindu community to consider a career in policing and for us to allay any concerns that they may have. Only by making the police service more representative are we going to reduce the fears and uncertainties various cultures have in relation to the Metropolitan Police."

Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur gave a personal address to over 3,500 Hindus at this major recruitment event on September 7th. Festivities included outdoor displays from the Met's dog section, mounted branch and marine support unit with fact-finding competitions for the hundreds of children gathered. The main recruitment marquee was a hive of activity with officers available on a one-to-one basis to discuss careers opportunities within the Met, together with videos and giveaways.

This PAT initiative follows on the success of a summer full of events such as Mardis Gras and the Asian Football Tournament and preceded attendance at the Brick Lane Festival on September 8th when the Met Police was again selling the promise of an exciting new career within the MPS. The aim being to catch the attention of festivalgoers at this Bangladeshi event held in Tower Hamlets.

Inspector Mark Weaver added: "The Brick Lane street festival provided us with an exciting opportunity to meet those from the Bangladeshi community. In preparation for this we drew up special recruitment literature in Bengali. Tower Hamlets is one of London's more diverse boroughs so it is exactly the kind of place to attract new recruits."

ETHNIC RECRUITMENT

The Positive Action Team was created in 1995 to promote a career within the police to London's under-represented communities. Its work is to build a workforce for everyone, involving everyone. Part of the challenge is to create a progressive, inclusive culture - which will come about when the service reflects London's diverse community.

The MPS has a recruitment target of 3,400 officers in the 2002/03 financial year, the highest number in its history.

The MPS Budgeted Workforce Target (BWT) for 31 March 2003 is 28,357. This is an increase of 1,707 over the BWT of 26,650 as at March 2002. Meanwhile, the Met's Positive Action Team is continuing its work to attract people from ethnic communities into the MPS, with a series of road shows throughout London. Last year, 9.8 percent of the Met's new recruits (@2600) came from an ethnic minority background and the plan is to increase this figure for 2003.

The MPHA currently has 200 members from among the Hindu officers within the force and forecasts that this will grow significantly in the coming year. Despite being the one of the major religions of the world, passivity among Hindus has seen the Muslim, Sikh, Jewish, Italian, Greek and Black associations being formed earlier within the MPS. However, the timely launch of the MPHA follows a major campaign by the Metropolitan Police to stamp out race hate crime. Dissemination and knowledge of Hindu Culture will undoubtedly help

ABOUT THE POSITIVE ACTION TEAM

For further information about a career with the Met contact PAT direct on 020 7230 0554. Alternatively visit our website at http://www.met.police.uk or visit our careers office at New Scotland Yard, Victoria Street, SW1, 10am to 4pm or 6pm on Thursdays.

To join the MPHA call Mahesh Nandha on 020 8733 3416.

INTERESTED IN HINDUISM?

Click here to read about major Hindu Festivals.
Click here to read about the Hindu Youth UK 'Get Connected' event.
Click here to read about 'The God Community'.
Click here to read about the Hindu Wedding ceremony.
Click here for a country profile on India.
Click here to find more Hindu Links.

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