Fed rep 'thrilled' to be chair of Women of Colour in Policing

20 May 2026

Detective Sergeant Jas Athwal says she is ‘thrilled’ to have been elected chair of Nottinghamshire Police’s Women of Colour in Policing Network.

Jas will combine the position with continuing to be a Nottinghamshire Police Federation rep.

And she says the roles offer an opportunity to amplify the voices of colleagues who may otherwise feel unheard.

Jas, who has served as a Fed rep since 2021, said: “I think the two go hand in hand.

“Having been with the organisation for 12 and a half years and being a Fed rep, you get to a point where you become confident in being able to help people and point them in the right direction.

 

Detective Sergeant Jas Athwal

 

“I’m currently the only woman of colour within our Federation, so combining that role with chairing the Women of Colour Network, I have a lot of support behind me.

“And members know they have someone who understands their experiences.

“It’s a chance to help the Force and help officers and staff get more recognition and opportunities.

“Because I’ve lived it myself, I feel I’ve got that authenticity if people have a problem they can come and speak to me.

“And also, it’s about making opportunities for people because I think that’s really important.”

Women of Colour

Jas, who is based at HQ on the Real Time Intelligence Unit, was elected chair of the Women of Colour in Policing Network in January.

The network forms part of Nottinghamshire Police’s staff support network structure. It feeds into the Support Networks Council where issues, funding, and development plans are discussed.

And her combined Federation and network roles allow her to advocate from different perspectives, and to support individuals while also addressing wider organisational issues.

Jas said: “For instance, one of the realities is that we’ve never had a woman of colour promoted beyond the rank of inspector within Nottinghamshire Police.

“They've got to inspector and then stopped. And then if they wanted to go any further, they've ended up leaving the force and becoming promoted as a chief inspector elsewhere.

“I want to see why, and what the barriers are.”

Since taking on the role, Jas says she and the network have ‘hit the ground running’.

A successful coffee morning brought women of colour together from across the Force.

Vaisakhi

The network has also supported members through workplace challenges, collaborated with other staff associations, and delivered cultural engagement events including a Vaisakhi celebration.

In April, Jas attended a Vaisakhi reception at 10 Downing Street.

She said: “That was really big for me, and I massive for the network, because it's showing people that it doesn't matter if you're a minority you can have these opportunities and recognition.

The network has around 50 members currently involved.

Jas is introducing new initiatives such as monthly staff spotlights to highlight achievements and recognise the diverse skills within Nottinghamshire Police.

She said: “We've got people with such amazing talents, such amazing skills, and we don't know them.

“So, I want to do a little spotlight on a woman of colour each month.”

Jas also emphasised the importance of allies, welcoming support from colleagues across all backgrounds.

Minority

She said: “We have a lot of allies signed up who are not Asian or black or any minority, and who have said we're there if you want any support, which is great.”

Jas added she hopes to ‘make a difference’ for colleagues.

“We had a lot of people of colour leaving last year, and I want to change that,” she said.

“I want to make sure women of colour feel supported, represented, and able to progress.

“I really want to make a difference.”

Nottinghamshire Police Federation chair Mark Lee said: “Congratulations to Jas on her election as chair.

“She brings energy, vision and a powerful commitment to tackling what she describes as ‘breaking the ceiling’ when it comes to the promotion gap for women of colour.

“She describes this as an issue that cannot be ignored.

Inspector

“We have only ever reached the rank of Inspector, while too many talented women of colour have felt the need to leave and achieve higher ranks elsewhere. That needs to change.

“I was privileged to attend their first meeting. Being in a room filled with such driven, passionate and committed colleagues was genuinely inspiring.

There is a clear and shared determination to make things better, not just for today but for the future of policing.

“What I saw in that meeting was the start of something meaningful, a collective voice, a shared purpose and a real drive to push forward.

“Jas and the team will have the Federation’s full support. If you’re interested in getting involved or learning more, please do reach out to Jas.”

To contact the Women of Colour in Policing Network, or for more information, visit its SharePoint on the Force intranet, or contact Jas. 

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