Sikh police association launched

Sikh police will have their own voice in the Thames Valley and in the UK.

A ceremony at police headquarters in Kidlington, Oxon, on yesterday officially marked the arrival of the British Sikh Police Association (BSPA).

Sergeant Kasmira Singh Mann, who works in Slough, said: "This is an important step towards improving the profile of Sikh officers within the police and gives them an officially-recognised voice while improving the police\'s understanding of the communities it serves."

He said the establishment of the BSPA represented an important move towards social cohesion and integration \'just like other support networks within the police.\'

It is estimated that there are more than 500 Sikh cops in the UK and more than 1,500 Sikh police staff.