Hopes for launch of SikhGuard to foster closer relationships

4 September 2023

Nottinghamshire Federation rep DS Jas Athwal says an online platform to encourage members of the Sikh community to report hate crime will strengthen relationships with the police.

Jas joined Nottinghamshire Police colleagues and members of the Sikh community at the launch of a campaign to raise awareness of SikhGuard.

Sikhguard aims to make it easier for people from within the community who have experienced abuse to come forward and report it to the police.

Jas said: “It will help to increase the reporting of hate crime incidents that previously may have gone unreported, and I think it will help to build trust and confidence in the police.”

Nottinghamshire Police colleagues (including DS Jas Athwal - centre)
and members of the Sikh community at the launch of a campaign to
raise awareness of SikhGuard.

The project was created by the National Sikh Police Association UK (NSPA) because it was concerned about under-reporting and the need to make police aware of the true extent of anti-Sikh hate.

DI Lakhbir Bola, the NSPA’s lead on hate crime and a Nottinghamshire Police Federation member, said: “It’s been designed and created by Sikh police officers and staff and is managed by them as well.

“The reporting will get picked up by us and we’ll then refer it to the correct police force and make sure it’s accurately recorded.

“The aim is to increase reporting from the Sikh community of hate crime and to make sure that reporting is recorded accurately when it comes to religion.”

The launch of a campaign to raise awareness of SikhGuard took place at the Siri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Sikh Temple, in Nottingham Road.

Jas said the launch was a chance to hear the experiences of people in the Sikh community. 

She said: “I’m a Sikh officer and I’ve grown up my whole life knowing there are issues that go on, and that some of the things they spoke about at the launch are hate crimes.

“For example, when I was at school there was a Sikh boy who had long hair as Sikh’s are forbidden from cutting their hair, but within a few years his parents had it cut off because he was subject to bullying. It’s upsetting that this is the length people have gone to for generations in order to stop being targeted.

“I’ve been a police officer for 10 years and I’ve never known anybody raise this issue as a hate crime. As a Sikh officer I truly believe we have a responsibility to raise the issues impacting our communities and make a difference.

“For people who want to keep that religious identity and are religious, it’s really important they understand they can report hate crime to the police and they will be listened to.

“It was important for me as a police officer and a Fed rep to be there at the front and build that trust and confidence with the community and say to them that I’m a Sikh, that I know about these issues, and we can raise that awareness and understanding and we’ve got the appropriate channels to report it.”

Lakhbir said the launch was a huge success.

“The reception we received was really positive,” he said. “I’ve had requests from around the country to deliver a similar presentation.

“So I’ll be working with other colleagues to present SikhGuard to raise awareness in the Sikh communities.”

Jas said the campaign could help with recruitment into the police from the Sikh community.

“The Gurdwara was really supportive and helped to explain the importance of SikhGuard to people,” she said.

“And as a result of us being there I think it will do good for recruitment from diverse communities. By the police being visible in the Gurudwara, people had the opportunity to feel inspired by a career in the police.”

READ MORE: Online fundraiser to support family of Sergeant Graham Saville is off to a great start