| History of Sikh Police Officers in the Metropolitan Police Service |
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by Diljit Singh Bahra (1975 - 2007)
Several other Sikhs have attended since then. One of them was Avtar Singh Mathuru, seen in the photo on the left in 1961 in Hendon.
The first Sikh Special Constable wearing a turban to join the Metropolitan Police Force was Harbans Singh Jabble (photo right) who joined in January 1969.
Both were former Police Officers from Kenya. By the end of 1970 there were three Sikhs with turbans in the Special Constabulary in the Metropolitan Police Service.
The first Sikh Police Officer to join the Metropolitan Police Force was Piarra Singh Kenth who joined on 21st July 1969. Piara Singh was born in Nairobi, Kenya and served in the Kenya Police for nine years before coming to the United Kingdom in 1969. He was a Police Inspector in Kenya. He joined Metropolitan Police at the age of 30 years. He served on Ealing and Southall Divisions, including the Immigrations Squad at Southall, for 10 years before resigning in November 1979. He was a Temporary Detective Constable for a period. Gurdial Singh Bhamra
He joined the Met on 14 September 1970 at the age of 27 years. He served on Southwark and Bexleyheath Divisions as a Police Constable. He was promoted to Sergeant on 24.5.1976 and served on Lemon Street, West Ham, and Forest Gate Divisions. He was promoted to Inspector in 1983 and served on Barking & Dagenham, Hackney, Bethnal Green and Redbridge Divisions. Gurdial served for 30 years and retired in March 2001.
Karpal, affectionately known as ‘Mina’ was born in Zanzibar, came to the UK in 1961 and began a nursing career. She joined the Police Force on 1st February 1971. At the time she joined there were a total of only 621 women police officers in the Metropolitan Police Force. She served at Leyton and at Hornsey Divisions. Sadly she died under tragic circumstances on 4th November 1973, aged 30 years. She was married with two children. Bhagvinder Singh Chahil, who was born in Kampala, Uganda, joined in September 1972 aged 26 years. He resigned whilst still at the training school. Naunihal Singh Bhangoo, better known as Ben, was born in Eldoret, Kenya.
He came to the UK with his family in February 1966 at the age of 12 years and continued his education here. He joined the Met on 17 December 1973 at the age of 19. Ben served at Golders Green and at the training School as an instructor. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1984 and served at Hornsey and Winchmore Divisions. He joined the newly formed Territorial Support Group (TSG) in January 1987 and was based at Calodonian Road. Ben was promoted to Inspector in December 1991 and served at Bow Street, Charing Cross and the Clubs & Vice Branch. In 2005 he went on secondment to Oman to teach the newly formed Iraqi Police Force. Prior to his retirement in August 2007 after 33 years service, he was based at the training School in Hendon. Ben was a keen sportsman. He represented the Metropolitan Police Athletic Club at Badminton. He represented his district team in the Met Police Laffone Cup and played football for his district teams. In November 1974, 326 police officers serving with the British Airports Authority Constabulary were transferred to the Metropolitan Police Force when the Policing of Airports Act 1974 came into force. Two of these officers were Sikhs. Peter Rajinder Kohli was born in Dehra Dun in India, joined the BAAC in July 1974 from Sussex Constabulary which he had joined in February 1969. He joined the Met on 1.11. 1974 aged 25 years. He served at Heathrow and Hammersmith Divisions. He resigned after serving two years with the Met. Jasbinder Singh Kuner was born in Nanyuki, Kenya. He joined the British Airports Authority Constabulary in June 1974 and transferred to the Met on 1.11.1974. He was aged 25 years when he joined the Met. He served at Heathrow and Battersea Divisions. He resigned in June 1981. Charnjid Singh Bhogal was born in Lango, Uganda.
He came to the UK in 1966 and studied Forensic Science. He joined the Met on 3rd March 1975 at the age of 27 years and served on Ilford and Wanstead Divisions as a Police Constable. He was promoted to sergeant on 17.5.1982 and served on East Ham and Plastow Divisions. He resigned in 1990 after serving for 15 years.
Diljit Singh Bahra was born in Kenya, came to Britain in 1967 and joined the British Army in 1968. Sikh Officers Social Club and the formation of MPSA
Gurdial, a 37 years old Uniform officer was based at at Notting Hill at the time. Ben & I both made a point of going to see him and his family and offered welfare support. Sadly Gurdial was medically retired in 2001. In April 1998, when Sergeant Gurpal Singh Virdi was falsely accused and suspended we made welfare visits.
Firstly I went to see Gurpal and his family. On the next visit I Ben accompanied me. On the following visit Gurdial Bambra, Ben & I visited Gurpal and his family. By Mid 1998, the three of us were providing welfare and mentoring support to our colleagues. Around this period, the Stephen Lawrence enquiry was being set up and the Metropolitan Police had set up a new unit to tackle Racial and Violent Crime under the leadership of Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Grieves. In December 1998 following informal discussions with DAC John Grieves, we decided to formalise the Association. Gurdial, Ben and I had several meetings at Charing Cross Police Station and on 15th January 1999 we had a formal meeting with DAC Grieves at New Scotland Yard. Following this meeting, the three of us submitted a joint report to Assistant Commissioner O’Connor through DAC John Grieves. On 11th February 1999, Assistant Commissioner O’Connor gave his approval for an association to be formed on the condition that a proper plan is submitted to him. The Year 1999 was a busy one, not only for us but the whole Sikh Community. In April 1999, together with five uniform Sikh Officers wearing turbans, I attended the Sikh celebrations at Royal Albert Hall. This was the first occasion that so many Sikh Officers had attended an event in uniform. Jack Straw, the Home Secretary of the time, met all the Officer's before he left on that day.
This meeting resulted in both Gurdip and me being invited to Sir Steven’s office at New Scotland Yard the following week and Sir John learning about Sikhs over a cup of coffee. We sent letters to all Sikh Officers on 5th June 1999 to update them on the plans to formalise the Association. I arranged a visit to the Arts of Sikh Kingdom exhibition on 20th June 1999 for all Sikh Officers and their families. Sir John Steven was also invited to join us. Sir John and his wife, Lady Cynthia attended the exhibition and met all the Sikh officers and their families at the Museum. From then onwards he became a good friend of the Sikhs. I took the opportunity of informing him of our plans to formalise the Association. We had our first formal meeting with Assistant Commissioner O’Connor on 23rd June 1999 at 8am at New Scotland Yard. Present at the meeting were DAC Grieves, Gurdial Bhamra, Ben Bhangoo and myself. By this time others in the organisation became aware of the work we were doing, in particularly the mentoring process. As a result, the three of us were invited to a 2 day mentoring course at Aybrook Street on 5th and 6th July 1999. The first open meeting of the Association on 9th July 1999 at Charing Cross Police Station was, however, poorly attended. Only 9 people turned up.
I was called in the early hours of that morning and assisted both at the scene and at the hospital. Sikh Officers attended his home to pay their respects and a large number turned up at the Service Funeral on 2nd November 1999. The Association was finally formed on 19th November 1999 during an open meeting at Charing Cross Police Station. Gurdial Bhamra was elected the Chairman of the Association. Copyright © DilBahraCollection |
