LONDON, UK—The Metropolitan Police for the first time in it’s history have celebrated Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Gurpurb. On Tuesday 2nd November 2016, the Metropolitan Police Sikh Association held the event at the Metropolitan Police Service Training School in Hendon, London.
The event was attended by the Commissioner of Police of London, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe QPM, Lord Ranbir Singh Suri, Rob Marris MP, West Midlands Police Sikh Association, Akhand Kirtani Jatha UK, Sikh Council UK, Khalsa Foundation, Sikh Helpline, Sikh Women’s alliance, Sikh Union Coventry, and representatives of various UK Gurdwaras.
The event began with a warm welcome from Ravjeet Singh, executive member of Metropolitan Police Sikh Association, and thanking the dignitaries and audience for attending the historical event. Slough Khalsa Academy leading Simran, a recital of a Shabad, and a rap made by students about the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Inspector Sutinderjit Mahil, Chair of Met Police Sikh Association welcomed guests to the event. Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, congratulated the Metropolitan Police Sikh Association for its great work and wished all the Sikh community best wishes for the Gurpurb of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The contributions of the Sikh community to the Police were highlighted, and an appeal was made for more Sikhs to come forward to join the Police. He stated that he hopes to see the Metropolitan Police with a Sikh Commissioner in the future.
Dignitaries from within the Police Force included Chief Superintendent Raj Singh Kohli, Chief Superintendent Parm Kaur Sandhu, and Chief Superintendent Victor Olisa. The historic challenges faced by black and ethnic minority background police recruits and officers was discussed and how lots of progress has been made in trying to recruit officers from diverse backgrounds into the Police Service to reflect the Communities we serve.
Bibi Mandeep Kaur, the Sikh Chaplain to the British Armed Forces, presented a short presentation on ‘Learning leadership skills from Guru Nanak Dev Ji.’
Later, Bhai Manvir Singh, an international Sikh speaker and HM prison chaplain, presented a short presentation on interesting facts and finds about the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Gurmel Singh Kandola OBE, Chair of Sikh Council UK, provided an insight on the Sikh Council UK and their hopes to create better links with the Police to deal with community matters and issues. The Sikh Council UK is the largest representative body of Sikhs in the UK, and is the only Sikh organisation to represent Sikh nationally that is democratically elected and held accountable by the Sikh community.
The event was filmed by Sikh Channel (Sky 929), and will be aired on television in the upcoming weeks.
