FED REP FOCUS
I FOUND A SENSE OF
Detective Sergeant Vinny Wagjiani embarked on a challenging journey when he joined the Metropolitan Police in 2002 and transferred to Surrey Police in 2009. An officer of Asian descent, the Neighbourhood Borough Sergeant looks back on his own personal journey and plots a way forward for many more colleagues from similar backgrounds. He writes:
Joining the police was never really my
primary choice, as I came from a culture which historically promoted careers in the medical or business fields. Having studied dental technology, forensic archaeology and worked as a forensic imagery analyst before joining the police, there is no doubt I faced challenges when I began my career as a police officer. The most intense came from within
my own community when they discovered I’d joined policing. This experience of uncomfortableness was something I did not want other officers to experience, and in 2010 I was elected as a Federation workplace representative to extend my philosophy towards our members. When I first joined the Federation,
Asian reps were very few and far between. I was the only one in Surrey at the time and
FULFILMENT
believed this reflected what was going on right across the country. In my earlier days, I faced challenges
and often would question whether I had made the right decision in becoming a police officer. It was only when I put my skills into practice supporting members
"When I first joined the Federation, Asian reps were very few and far between."
that I found a sense of fulfilment, and this gave me the buzz to continue. Then I knew I was doing the right thing. Since then, I have contributed to helping the Federation grow, supported many members across my force and influenced policy changes to better reflect fairness. Being able to change CID’s seven-day night shifts to two days and contributing to how the force responded to assaults on police officers are the two things of which I have been most proud.
AND THEN I KNEW I WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING DS Vinny Wagjiani.
A Surrey DS wants colleagues to feel inspired, safe and fulfilled, and reflects on how his Asian heritage helps him in his role as a Federation workplace representative.
My dedication to colleagues and
their families has extended to organising a charity event called “Light the Lakes”. This raises money and awareness for Care of Police Survivors (COPS), a charity supporting families that have lost loved ones in the line of duty. As an Asian officer, the fact I came
from what was once perceived as a non- traditional background has provided me with a platform to better support colleagues. Although it has at times been challenging, my own journey gave me useful life skills to help ensure policing attracts people from communities where they may be under-represented. This personal experience helps me support them while they navigate their journey as a police officer. Through empathic listening, I have helped strengthen the confidence of individuals so they can succeed, and be the very best they can be. However, there is still more work to be done – as I know only too well as a Fed rep. I would now like to see more support for the wellbeing of colleagues, more acknowledgement of the talent we have within policing and for us collectively to better embrace a learning culture.
31 I POLICE I DECEMBER 2021
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
