Sergeant Taranvir Gill

Sergeant Taranvir Gill, aka Taz, has been a Hertfordshire police officer for eight years. For much of his policing career, Taz has worked as a Positive Action coach and mentor, supporting both internal and external candidates with their journey to join Hertfordshire Police. 

Born in Leicester, Taz moved to Hertfordshire when he was in primary school and says it was rare to spot another Sikh in the community. The 28-year-old frontline cop recalls his 2010 secondary school work experience ‘ride-along’ with local police officers as a turning point when he was able to help officers aid a victim of crime by stepping in to translate, speaking Punjabi.

“I saw there and then another real difference I could make, breaking down cultural barriers between the police and the public.”

Taz continued: “I grew up with uniforms, mum working at A&E, uncles and cousins in the fire and police service, so public service was a natural step for me – helping people at their worst times. But I know that for other people from my background, Sikhs, Black people, Muslims, Hindus, and other protected characteristics, there are cultural barriers. I want to reach out and make a difference by getting the right people into our police force.”

Many police forces offer positive action initiatives, such as mentoring and online engagement sessions, to specifically support people from under-represented groups to apply. In recent years, Hertfordshire police service has offered mentors through their Positive Action team. As a key member of this team, Taz helps support candidates from under-represented groups in order to create a more diverse workforce that reflects the communities they serve. Taz is also the Interim Chair of Hertfordshire Police Sikh’s Association, which has seen him give talks to students at schools, colleges and universities across Hertfordshire. Inspiring people to consider a policing career is a key part of what makes Taz’s role so rewarding. 

“I’m very passionate about coaching and mentoring. There’s nothing better than being part of a student’s journey into their dream job, I love it. And I know it’s going to better the organisation in the long run, too. Bringing the best people in, it’s a role I take personally.

“One of the biggest cultural barriers is policing not being seen as a profession with a qualification. I sometimes talk to the parents of people I’m mentoring who want their son or daughter to be a doctor or an optician, and I explain the opportunities for promotion in policing. I think the new PEQF entry routes where police officers gain degrees prior to joining or work to achieve a funded degree during their probationary period will break down that barrier.”

Taz says more young people from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds now mention being part of a bigger social change as a motivation to join policing.

“I think this is so important. They want to be the change in society and to help it happen. Those candidates are incredibly important to the organisation as it promotes not only diversity in society, but diversity of thought too.

“When I shake my mentee’s hand at their attestation, it’s just such a joy to be part of that great achievement and I cherish that.”