Rashid Awan

THE unique impact of Rashid Awan on the life of Bradford arose from his tireless commitment
to promoting racial harmony
in the city, which led to him becoming the UK’s first police officer from an ethnic minority background.
Rashid AwanRashid Awan
Rashid Awan

Mr Awan died unexpectedly in Bradford Royal Infirmary following complications after hip replacement surgery. He was 75, and had previously led a healthy and active life.

He and his new bride, Khalida, arrived in London in 1963, his ambition was to become a policeman, but to his dismay, the police force at that time only admitted whites.

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A Bill was before Parliament that would change the law, and he was advised to re-apply when it had been passed. But that took three years, and in the interval, he worked as a prison officer at Wandsworth Prison.

In Lahore he had trained to be a pilot before becoming a policeman, so it was no raw recruit who presented himself to the Metropolitan Police.

After the law was changed in 1967, he caused continuing media interest by becoming the first person to take advantage of it.

He joined the Bradford Police force, which merged to become the West Yorkshire Police in
1974.

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After receiving his long service medal from the police force, Mr Awan retired in 1991, and then rook up a second career, as a special investigator.

Outside work, his life revolved around caring for his family and was centred upon bringing harmony and understanding between Bradford’s established population and the influx of immigrants from Pakistan.

Following his second retirement, he was able to devote all his time and energy to serving the community, for which he was awarded the MBE in 2008.

The previous year, Bradford City Council had chosen him to receive its active citizen award.

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In 2005 he founded, and was chairman of, the Minority Ethnic Police Liaison Committee which works towards building trust and confidence between the police and ethnic minorities.

He was also on the board of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Mr Awan was also chairman of the Connecting Communities Board, which was in receipt of Home Office funding for its work.

He was president of the Pakistan Society of West Yorkshire, of which he was a founder member in 1993; the Society holds annual gatherings for is 600-or-so members
which raise funds for the Lord Mayor’s appeals and other charities.

His appearance immaculate, no matter what the occasion or the circumstances, Mr Awan was notable for his dignity and integrity.

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In a speech he made in 2009, he expressed the conviction that inspired so much of his work when he declared: “If you love the country that you were born in, you must also love the country you live in.”

He is survived by his wife, Khalida, their daughters Huma, Asma, Sofia an Aysha, their son Qasem, and seven grandchildren.