First imam policeman to steer Muslim teens away from crime
THE first imam to become a West Midlands police officer is reaching out to Muslim teenagers in the battle against knife crime and gang culture.
Pc Emad Choudhury spent five years at Balsall Heath’s Bahu Trust mosque – but now he hopes to help divert young people away from gang culture while policing city streets.
The 29-year-old is using his connections and influence at the mosque, where he still regularly delivers Friday prayers, to educate young people on the devastating impact of gangs.
“It’s something I’m really passionate about,” said Pc Choudhury. “Too many children, including some from my home in Sparkbrook, are being killed and lives ruined through knife crime. I know these communities, I live here and I know how it works. I’m trying to use my access to people here to prevent more lost lives and heartache.”
Pc Choudhury started training in 2018. Following spells with the Edgbaston neighbourhood team and a response shift attending emergency calls for help, he is now assigned to the Project Guardian team – a specialist unit tasked with tackling knife crime and youth violence.
Earlier this year Pc Choudhury and the Bahu Trust won a United Nations Safer Cities Award for a video which details the story of two Muslim mothers affected by knife crime.
One is mourning her son’s murder. The other, the killer’s mother, is being shunned by most in her community and wracked by feelings of shame.
Pc Choudhury scripted the video and worked with young people in his Sparkbrook community to play roles in the short film.
Kamran Shezad, from the Bahu Trust, added: “Emad has helped deliver our work on violent crime from a faith perspective.
“It’s changed the lives of many young people in east Birmingham. It’s good to see West Midlands Police recognises the unique position of influence Emad holds in the community he was born in and understands so well.
“Using both his imam and police hat, he is able to represent the police to the community and the community to the police.” Pc Choudhury describes himself as a ‘‘devout’’ Muslim but says juggling religious and policing duties has been easier than he imagined. He added: “I thought it would be harder to be who I am. I pray five times a day, at specific times, and was worried it would be difficult for the force to accommodate.
“In reality it’s been quite simple and my Inspector understands there are brief moments in the day when I need to pause.
“There is a designated prayer room but to be honest I would be happy to whip out a prayer mat at the side of the road while on an operation if I needed to. Though that’s never needed to happen.
“I’ve had a bit of banter from people I know in my community at me becoming a police officer but no aggression, no one suggesting I’m a traitor or a sell-out. People I speak to are intrigued; they want to know what I’ve been doing.
“Two people I know have now applied to be police officers. Police values are the same as my religion. It’s really simple. It boils down to being a good person, having a good heart and caring for people.”
Pc Emad Choudhury