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Race Equality Week: PC Nilufar Ali drives inclusion in West Midlands Police

Race Equality Week: PC Nilufar Ali drives inclusion in West Midlands Police

Monday 3rd January 2024

Police Constable Nilufar Ali has been leading on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives in West Midlands Police, starting at a local level in Birmingham before taking her passion and learnings force wide. She now plays a leading role in the force’s Black and Asian Policing Association and this year is launching a new strand of the network specifically to support women from ethnic minority backgrounds.

During Race Equality Week (3rd – 9th Feb) she tells us more about her work and how Police Now’s programme supported and inspired her along the way.

“Be brave, be confident in who you are and what you bring to the table. Every voice counts, every action counts.” – PC Nilufar Ali

Police Constable Nilufar Ali

“I joined West Midlands Police (WMP) as a neighbourhood officer in 2019 on Police Now’s National Graduate Leadership Programme, and I have been involved in supporting and driving inclusion and diversity initiatives since the get go. Police Now’s commitment to supporting diverse talent and leadership is unrivalled, and their support has continuously encouraged me to push ideas through and become a leader in this space. For me it’s all about taking action, getting involved, and seizing opportunities – I want to be a part of the real progress within policing.

“I took on the Birmingham West Diversity and Inclusion Panel co-lead role early in my career, collaborating with senior officers to identify opportunities to improve internal cultures and raise awareness of the diverse experiences of officers in the force. I won a national Police Now Alumni Impact Award for this work shortly after completing the programme and had conversations with the Home Office and College of Policing to discuss how EDI can be further incorporated into training new officers.

“I am now focused on expanding this work, and as a member of the national Women of Colour in Policing (WOCIP) network I was inspired to deliver something force wide. I identified where we could improve our support offering for women of ethnic minority heritages and I am now working to create a new strand of the force’s Black and Asian Policing Association (BAPA) to do just this. It’s about giving ethnic minority women in WMP a platform to identify and overcome barriers, collaborate, and intentionally focus on ways we can drive real change. It is very new and still getting up and running, but we’re already in the process of establishing a dedicated coaching and mentoring programme in collaboration with ‘Women in the Shade’ to launch later this year.

“I have also recently been involved in a brand-new Police Now alumni advisory group about supporting ethnic minority women in policing nationally. A number of Police Now officers across England and Wales are getting involved to share our experiences and insights on any barriers we’ve faced and how Police Now can continue to best support under-represented groups to progress in policing.

“Working in a typically male-dominated field as an ethnic minority woman can be an intimidating experience; you tend to question where you fit in and what you bring to the table, with challenges and barriers that are often nuanced and complex. But there are lots of supportive voices in policing and those who will help you challenge attitudes or drive change where needed, if you take initiative and use your voice. This is why I’m so passionate about creating space for this support and new network branch.

“Alongside this work, my full-time role is now about providing support and training in the Force Contact team. We’re a first point-of-call for the public when they’re in need of police support, and we explore new and innovative ways to make an impact in communities and advance modern policing. I’m proud that my work in that team and across EDI helps me and my colleagues to be the best officers we can be, as we work to protect and serve the diverse communities across the West Midlands.

“My advice to others in policing, or to those who are thinking of joining, is: be brave, be confident in who you are and what you bring to the table. Every voice counts, every action counts. Having the confidence to embrace that and seize opportunities for improvement is the best way to drive real progress and change.”

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