Pc Amit Patel – Police Officer 

“As an Indian police officer and Vice Chair for the Black and Asian Police Association I have been able to support my BAME colleagues and engage with the under-represented groups in our communities to build bridges of trust and break down cultural barriers.

I am currently working in the Workforce Representation team where I have helped educate our staff, officers, and leaders around different religions and cultures. I have also been actively recruiting diverse members of our communities to be on our interview panels so that the public have a say in who supports and protects them.”

Amit was born in Rochdale 1989. His mother was of Asian African heritage and born in Uganda. She came to Britain as a refugee after being expelled from Africa by Idi Amin. His father was Indian, and he came to Britain on a boat with his brothers in the 1970s.

His parents really came from nothing and worked tremendously hard to get where they are now. They have been really inspirational for him and have been a key driving force in his enthusiasm for success. He is greatly inspired by them and sees their hardworking qualities and passion or success a good thing.

After being born in Rochdale, he then came with his family to settle in Hawarden, North Wales. He grew up in Wales and really likes the people and the community. He has had really positive experiences living in Wales. He grew up in Wales and really likes the people and the community. He has had really positive experiences living in Wales.  He is incredibly fond of the scenery and mountains in Wales and feels that his location in North Wales is a good base with good connections to both rural and urban areas. Although he has loved living in his community, he has always been aware of his visible difference to others in the community. He realises that people in such rural areas might not be used to such diversity and is passionate about having conversations and educating the community about different cultures and religions to promote better understandings of different ethnic minority backgrounds in Wales.

Whilst he comes from a Hindu family, he himself is a Buddhist, and is always open about having conversations with people about his beliefs.

“It is important to educate people surrounding cultures and religion to promote enhanced appreciation in Wales for people from different backgrounds.”

Amit is particularly passionate about integrating BAME communities with wider communities in Wales. He realises that groups from underrepresented backgrounds tend to keep themselves to themselves and isolate themselves from the wider community. He wants to change this. He is aware that more is being done to break down these cultural barriers but feels that there’s still some way to go. He is passionate about openness and believes that talking about things is important.

“Having them difficult conversations allow for people to become better educated and more aware – improves relationships across communities where people can learn from each other and respect each other’s values and cultures. This how we are able to embrace diversity.”

He studied criminology at Liverpool John Moore’s University, before going on to become a special constable in Chester City in Cheshire. He then decided to join North Wales Police. In his work, he believes it is important for the police force to be more representative of the communities they serve. He brings his personal values to his role and is passionate about educating about diversity and inclusion to combat the lack of diversity in the police. He is an ardent supporter of positive action, focused on breaking down the barriers and making way for an ever more diverse and inclusive police force. He often attends career fairs with students and young people to educate them about the variety of roles within the police.

“It is important to progress things and ensure that things are constantly developing – especially in Policing.”

Amit is the vice chair for the Black and Asian Policing Association, a support network for members of the police force from BAME backgrounds which is currently flourishing. The BAPA is important to him as he feels that it is important to have that as a good support network. The association is open to all people of ethnic minority backgrounds, to offer moral support, guidance, and support to members of the force. With this, they have embraced an inclusive environment where they are able to learn from each other.

Within the support system, there is a Buddy Scheme where police from ethnic minority backgrounds can buddy up with someone from the force to act as moral support. This helps them feel more comfortable in their role and works to encourage more members of ethnic minority communities to come forward and get involved in policing in Wales.