Home Secretary's brother among Asian officers recognised for their service
The most senior counter terrorism officer in UK policing has been selected as a finalist in the 18th annual Asian Achiever Awards.
Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, who recently led the police response to the terror attack in Westminster last Tuesday (August 14), was nominated in the ‘Achievement in Uniformed and Civil Service’ category.
He is the first ever officer of Asian heritage to be appointed to the most senior role in counter-terrorism policing.
Also among the 32 finalists in the awards are West Midlands Police Chief Superintendent Bas Javid – Home Secretary Sajid Javid’s brother – and Chief Superintendent Raj Kohli from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).
Mr Basu spent the majority of his policing career working as a detective in all ranks up to detective superintendent in anti-corruption and homicide with the MPS’s Serious and Organised Crime Command.
In 2015, Mr Basu became Deputy Assistant Commissioner and led on protection and security, including Royalty and Specialist Protection, Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection, Aviation Policing and Protective Security Operations.
A year later, he was appointed Senior National Coordinator for counter-terrorism, responsible for delivering the police response to pursuing terrorists and the MPS’s Prevent strategy.
His performance in this role earned him the post of Assistant Commissioner after Mark Rowley stepped down in January this year.
The highest-ranking Muslim officer at West Midlands Police, Borough Commander of Solihull Chief Supt Javid, stands alongside Mr Basu in the nominations.
With 25 years’ policing experience, Chief Supt Javid has been outspoken in his criticism of police cuts over the last ten years, as well as the need for more Asian representation in the police service.
Police Professional understands he has passed the senior Police National Assessment Centre and is eligible to attend the Strategic Command Course.
Also selected as a finalist in the Asian Achiever Awards is the Borough Commander of Hounslow Chief Supt Kohli, who is the highest-ranking Sikh officer at the MPS.
Chief Supt Kohli has 28 years’ policing experience and his borough is on course to meet the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime target of cutting seven key neighbourhood crimes, including robbery, domestic abuse and burglary, by a fifth.
The Asian Achievers Awards will take place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in West London on September 14.
