Police Sergeant & Ethnic Minority Recruitment Team Leader
Emergency Services

My brother is a police officer. He encouraged me to join. I am more than happy that I did!

Jameel is a Recruitment Team Leader and Sergeant in the police service.

“I deal with all aspects of the recruiting process for new police constables. One of my main roles is to recruit people from minority ethnic backgrounds and also to assist in their retention and progression within the service. I lead a team of five people. We attend careers fairs, community events, sporting activities and schools and colleges. I really enjoy meeting with members of the public.”

Jameel has not always been a police officer; he has worked in a family run newsagents and for a magazine publishing company.  He became interested in the idea of joining the police service through a member of his family.

“I went down to London to stay with my brother.  He was a serving police officer and he really encouraged me to apply to join the police service. I am more than happy that I did.”

Did anyone try to discourage Jameel from becoming a police officer?

“No. I think I’ve been quite fortunate.  I know that some people from ethnic minority backgrounds do face a lack of support from their own families and people from their own community. My family have been very supportive.”

Outside work, Jameel is passionate about rugby!

“I have played since I was ten years old and I’ve played rugby union in the police service.”

Jameel says he thinks it is very important for young people to have role models in their lives.

“These people have probably been through some of the difficulties that the young person is going through at the time. Also, if a young person sees, for example, someone being a firearms officer within the police service, it can inspire them to think, ‘if other people have done it that are just like me, why can’t I do it?’ ”

Are there any people that Jameel considers have been role models in his life?

“Not one particular person. I’m encouraged by people who have a positive outlook in life. I think one of the most difficult things in life is when you have a setback to pick yourself up, carry on and move on. I am also quite a religious person.  I try to take a positive outlook on something that may have happened.”

What does Jameel value most about his job?

“Meeting so many different people from so many different backgrounds. When I see some of the success that our department has achieved – when you see somebody coming to you from a similar part of the community wanting to apply for the police service and you’ve helped to mentor and guide that individual – that gives me a great sense of achievement.”

There has been quite a lot of publicity recently about racism in the police service.  Has that made Jameel’s job more difficult in any way?

“Whenever you see something negative about a certain group of people, it’s bound to have an effect.  Where I am, in Lancashire, we have built up a lot of trust and confidence within the community. It just motivates us more to make sure we don’t become complacent about issues like racism.”

What are the most difficult aspects of Jameel’s job?

“Often it is about dealing with people’s negative perceptions of the police service.  When people are not willing to listen to you - that can be difficult.”

How would Jameel go about trying to convince someone from a minority ethnic community that they should join the police service?

“The first thing we do is to engage with them. We find out what their feelings are about the police service.  It’s not about denying that all their feelings and thoughts are inaccurate.  It’s about trying to explain to them why the police may have behaved in a certain way and the different ways we can deal with a situation. We also talk to them about all the changes that have been made in the police service in terms of culture and employment. People are surprised when we tell them what we are doing.”

Are any attempts made to encourage young women to join the police service?

“Yes.  We have female events. We will have a female police officer attending to talk about the police service. It might involve an evening with food and henna painting or some beauty treatments. The main thing is to have an environment that is comfortable for them.”

What skills does Jameel feel are important to have to be a police officer?

“Communication skills – and the ability to communicate at different levels with people from different backgrounds is critical.  There are other skills like problem solving and team building.  The police service provides training to improve these and other skills. I have been on a Personal Leadership Course and a Sergeant’s Promotion Course.”

Does Jameel have any advice for someone who is considering joining the police service?

“I would say if you are interested in joining the police service, contact your recruiting department.  Go and find out from people who are from a similar background to yourself; see if they are enjoying being in the police service. A lot of people from particular backgrounds will go down a particular route because it’s what their parents did or because it’s what other people are doing.”

What would Jameel like to be doing in the future?

“I would like to be an inspector. I’ve passed the first part of that process and I have to pass another exam in a couple of months. An important thing for me is to continue learning.”

back