Off the Beat
Celebrating the Launch of Nusrit Mehtab’s “Off the Beat” at the University of East London
We were honoured to attend the launch of Nusrit Mehtab’s compelling memoir, “Off the Beat,” yesterday at the University of East London.
In 2020, we had the privilege of representing Nusrit in her case against the Metropolitan Police for (inter alia) race discrimination. Her book offers a powerful retelling of her experiences, from her early days in the Metropolitan Police to her current role in academia and mentorship.
A Life Marked by Courage and Resilience.
In this searing memoir, Nusrit recounts her thirty years in the Metropolitan Police, detailing the appalling treatment she endured. Despite 46% of London’s population being BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic), only 2% of the met were BAME when Nusrit joined and now only 15.4% is representative of this diversity. This stark disparity raises an important question: How can an organisation that does not reflect the community it serves effectively represent and protect it?
Nusrit joined the Metropolitan Police at a time when the organisation was rife with racism and misogyny. Instead of using her real name, her colleagues refused to patrol with her and nicknamed her the derogatory ‘Nidgit.’ Her attempts at promotion were met with hostility and ridicule, and she was subjected to cruel pranks. As she gained seniority, Nusrit found these issues worsened, revealing the nearly impenetrable glass ceiling for BAME officers who refuse to conform to a racist, white, male-dominated culture.
An Evening of Inspiration and Hope
During an inspirational Q&A session last night, Nusrit spoke about “pushing back, coming back, and overcoming challenges.” Her editor highlighted that “compassion bleeds through every page, despite tougher times… she gives hope that there is a version of the future where we can have a police force safer for everyone.” Nusrit Mehtab spoke eloquently last night about how policing can be best tackled by ethical leadership which has been saddly lacking in police forces.
Lawrence quoted that such leadership was present in the room, but sadly, due to institutional racism, those black leaders have never achieved power. Instead, due to glass ceilings, the current white leadership that we have lack the insight and commitment to tackle racism. Ironically, today's BBC lead story exemplifies failure from the current non-diverse police leadership, where connections and dishonesty seem to be more important to promotion.
She also addressed the importance of institutional acknowledgment of systemic racism. Reflecting on the recent announcement by the National Black Police Association (NBPA) to withdraw support for the Police Race Action Plan, Nusrit pointed out that denying a problem prevents any meaningful efforts to solve it. The NBPA’s decision highlights the plan’s failure to address discrimination, perpetuating institutional racism instead.
Looking to the Future
Despite the adversity she has faced, Nusrit has always fought back. Rather than retreating after her traumatic experiences, she is now lecturing young recruits in criminology and mentoring BAME officers. Nusrit is confident that we can shape the next generation to create a more inclusive police force, one that is safer for both officers and the public.
Nusrit Mehtab’s “Off the Beat” is not just a memoir; it’s a call to action for systemic change in our police forces and beyond. Her story is a testament to resilience, the power of advocacy, and the hope for a future where our institutions truly reflect and serve our diverse communities.
Look out for more insights next week, as we delve deeper into the implications of the NBPA’s recent decision…