2 months ago
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BBC
Manjit Atwal retired arsenic 1 of the highest-ranking Sikh pistillate constabulary officers successful the UK
The archetypal Sikh pistillate constabulary serviceman successful Leicestershire has retired aft 28 years successful the force.
Manjit Atwal roseate to the fertile of main superintendent and retired connected Thursday arsenic 1 of the highest-ranking Sikh pistillate officers successful the UK.
She said she had witnessed large changes since joining Leicestershire Police successful 1996, including exertion and inclusivity.
During her clip successful the police, Ms Atwal worked arsenic a hostage negotiator for 12 years, and received the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
She said: "Over the past 28 years, there’s been truthful galore changes. Whether you look astatine uniform, from a skirt to trousers, to much women successful the occupation and besides technology, and we’ve got a much divers workforce."
Leicestershire Police
Manjit Atwal says the young pistillate who joined the unit ne'er dreamed she’d beryllium a main superintendent and credited her household for supporting her emergence done the ranks
Ms Atwal said immoderate of the biggest challenges she had faced successful her vocation included "being a pistillate of colour and being a mother, due to the fact that of the displacement signifier that we worked astatine that time.
"What I was capable to do, was enactment done those barriers and marque those changes passim my career."
However, Ms Atwal said she believes workforce diverseness remains a challenge.
"When I joined backmost successful 1996, determination weren't galore that looked similar me," she said.
"And determination weren't galore women either. But now, we've got a batch much women successful the job.
"For me, Leicester is truthful vibrant, multicultural, and we truly request to look similar our communities."
She added that she 1 time hopes to spot a main constable from a number community.
'Communities spot her'
Ms Atwal besides worked arsenic portion of Operation Soteria, a nationalist programme to amended the policing effect to rape and different intersexual offences.
Chief Constable Rob Nixon said communities trusted Ms Atwal, which helped to physique spot successful the force.
He added: "Internally, I deliberation her bequest is she has inspired unit and officers to articulation the force, enactment with the force, and follow a truly precocious level of integrity and assemblage focus."
When asked what her plans were next, Ms Atwal said: "I'm going to instrumentality immoderate clip out, due to the fact that arsenic I've gone done my career, my children person grown up.
"I've present got grandchildren and I truly privation to person a spot of clip retired to person immoderate clip with my grandchildren, my family, but besides reinvent myself arsenic the caller Manjit."
Additional reporting from Amy Payne
English (US)