Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone held a roundtable discussion with Hindu temple leaders last week to strengthen community engagement and build trust.
Danielle was joined by Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet and Deputy Chief Constable Ash Tuckley at the meeting, where Hindu faith leaders and community representatives from across Northamptonshire came together to share their perspectives on community safety, representation in policing and partnership working.
The roundtable is part of a series of meetings with different communities and faiths that Danielle has been holding since being elected last year. The discussions form part of the commitment of Danielle’s Safe and Sound plan, to ensure that our emergency services reflect the needs and priorities of all residents in Northamptonshire.
The group discussion heavily focussed on the issue of representation and diversity within policing. Many attendees had questions and suggestions on how Hindu people could be more attracted to the recruitment process and be encouraged to apply for positions in Northamptonshire Police.
Danielle said: “The roundtable was essential to building a new strong relationship with the community. It was a fantastic opportunity to listen and learn so we can work together more closely on our shared priority, keeping our communities safe.
“Our workforce must be representative of our communities. I was pleased to hear directly from the community leaders how we can ensure we take the right approach in our recruitment. Our emergency services must be inclusive and shaped by the voices of those they serve.”
Ethnic diversity representation in Northamptonshire Police is currently just below 5%, which is higher than it has ever been, but was acknowledged that it is not high enough.
Members of the group highlighted the positive impact of neighbourhood policing and how the consistency of one police officer that understands them culturally helped with building trust in the police.
Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet said: “We are committed to making Northamptonshire Police truly reflective of the communities we serve, and that means attracting, recruiting and retaining people from all backgrounds.
“The roundtable was a valuable opportunity to hear directly from members of our Hindu community what we are doing right, and what we are doing wrong. I welcomed all their thoughts and opinions and look forward to working together in future to create a more inclusive Northamptonshire Police.”
Members of the roundtable also shared their thoughts on how two-way communications can be improved to build a better rapport with the emergency services.
Raj Ladwa, a volunteer from BAPS Hindu Temple in Wellingborough, attended the roundtable and found it productive.
He said: “It was a highly productive discussion with the Commissioner and Chief Constable, focusing on stronger engagement between the police and the Hindu community and improving representation within the force.”
