Ramadan: Non-Muslim police officers in UK fast for a day

Seventy-two volunteers from Surrey Police in South East England on Wednesday joined their Muslim colleagues and communities to observe Ramadan fast for a day.

The action was part of a ‘Fasting Collective’ organised by the Force’s Inclusion team to show their support and learn more about Islam.

Dawn Hickman, Accounts Assistant, volunteered to take part in a fast, and shared her experience: “Although not motivated by religious beliefs, I found it to be a good test of my own resilience and discipline.

“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.”

Deputy Chief Constable Nev Kemp said: “The camaraderie of being together from Sahoor (before sunrise) to Iftar (after sunset), not just with colleagues in Surrey but with Muslims globally, really helped me to focus throughout the day.

“My appreciation and respect for the discipline required to complete Ramadan has grown my admiration for our fasting colleagues as well.”

Farhan Hayat, Deputy Inclusion Lead and Chair of Surrey Police Association of Culture & Ethnicity (SPACE) said: “As a race and ethnicity staff network, we have been so touched and humbled by the support seen throughout Surrey Police for Muslim colleagues observing the holy month of Ramadhan.

“To authentically understand the lived experience of others, it is so important to live and share those experiences with them. What the Fasting Collective allowed was for colleagues across the Force to share in an experience so fundamentally important to our Muslim colleagues and communities. (Surrey Police)