Mum said I was mad for joining the police – was she right?
Nusrit Mehtab was once the most senior female Asian officer in London’s police force. Inspired by her mum, she broke barriers while fighting racism and sexism.
When Nusrit Mehtab joined the Metropolitan Police in London in the late '80s, her mum Zara thought it was a terrible idea. Her Muslim community didn’t trust the police and she’d never seen a police officer who looked like her daughter. Undeterred, Nusrit trained to do undercover work, thrived on the excitement of it. She rose through the ranks and was, at one time, the most senior female Asian officer in the Metropolitan Police. She loved her job but felt she had to challenge the racism and sexism she encountered from her colleagues and never, ever, moaned to her mum. In 2017, after 30 years of service, she decided to take the Metropolitan Police to an employment tribunal. The case was eventually settled out of court and the Met did not admit liability, Nusrit's refusal to sign a non-disclosure agreement allowed her to speak openly about her experiences.
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producers: Paula McFarlane and Erin Riley
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Nusrit Mehtab and her Mum; Credit: Nusrit Mehtab)
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