Officers take part in day of fasting for Ramadan

Officers have joined their Muslim colleagues in participating in a daily fast as part of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The fast saw six officers not eat or drink from dawn until sunset on Tuesday 12 April.

The aim of the fast, organised by the force’s Multi-Cultural Association (MCA), was to bring greater understanding and reflection on what Ramadan means to our Muslim colleagues.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and sees Muslims engage in additional worship, self-disclipline, prayer, reflection and community-focused activities. This year it runs from 1 April to 1 May.

PC Ijaz Chaudry of Staffordshire Police and Chair of the MCA , said: “We have been humbled by the support seen throughout Staffordshire Police for Muslim colleagues observing the holy month of Ramadan.

“It’s important to live and share these experiences with them.

“The fast allowed our colleagues across the force to share the experience so fundamentally important to our Muslim colleagues and communities.”

One of those who participated in the fast was Caroline Coombe, Head of People and Organisational Development (POD) at Staffordshire Police, and said: “Prior to participating in the fast, I hadn’t fully appreciated the challenge and how impactive it can be to fully abstain from eating or drinking from sunrise (just after 4am) to sunset (8pm).

“Participating in the fast was a rewarding experience and gave me an opportunity to reflect - both in terms of the personal impact on colleagues - appreciating the self-discipline required and how faith and worship helps to sustain Muslim colleagues and those in the wider community to meet this challenge.”

Dave Fynn, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Co-ordinator at Staffordshire Police, added: “'Fasting for the day with no food and water was quite an experience and I realised that it requires a significant level of dedication and self-control to do it.

“There are so many people in the world who don’t have enough to eat or drink and go to bed and wake up with an empty stomach, so I think my one day was very doable.

“I enjoyed the challenge and would take part again.”

To find out more about how the force supports equality, diversity and inclusion, visit: https://careers.staffordshire.police.uk/inclusive/.

 

Image (left to right): Caroline Coombe, Head of People and Organisational Development, Chief Inspector Karen Stevenson, Dave Fynn, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Co-ordinator, Superintendent Nicola Furlong, and Sergeant Razwana Nasheen.