Policing without consent
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Published
14 June 2024
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A new book by a former senior female Asian officer in the Metropolitan Police has revealed the misogynistic and racist abuse she encountered during her thirty years on the force. Nusrit Mehtab, who now teaches criminology and criminal justice at the University of East London, will launch her memoir, Off the Beat, at the University’s Royal Docks School of Business and Law (RDSBL) on 20 June 2024.
A powerful account of the systemic racism and misogyny she faced, it details occasions when fellow officers refused to patrol with her, would not call her by her name and played sexist pranks on her.
Despite the challenges, she continued to strive for promotion, becoming the most senior female Asian officer in the Met and working in everything from undercover operations to counterterrorism. She left in January 2020, complaining of a “toxic workplace”, rife with sexism and institutional racism. Ms Mehtab said,
If you can’t change a system from the inside, you have no choice but to try and change it from the outside. That act starts with telling my own story as a brown Muslim woman in the Met."
The book, published by Transworld Penguin Random House, is not just a searing account of her own personal experiences but also exposes ingrained issues within UK policing. It proposes reforms for greater accountability and more effective policing.
UEL Senior Lecturer Dr Nadia Habashi welcomed the publication of Ms Mehtab’s work. She said, "The book recognises the achievements and challenges of a trailblazing former senior leader of the Metropolitan Police and underscores the ongoing commitment of the RDSBL to issues of justice, equity, dignity and worth. It is a testament to the power of personal narratives, which provide a greater understanding of the reality of police culture, its devastating impact, and support the push towards transformational change.”
As a lecturer in criminology, a pastoral care lead and a mentor to Global Majority Ethnic officers, Ms Mehtab now helps shape the next generation of police officers to create a more inclusive and safe environment for both officers and the public.
The book launch will begin at 6pm at UEL’s University Square, Stratford and will include a book reading, interviews and a panel discussion about the future of policing, race and community relations in Britain.
For media enquiries, please email pressoffice@uel.ac.uk.