BEAT BOBBY SHOWS SOLIDARITY BY FASTING WITH COLLEAGUES

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Beat bobby shows solidarity by fasting with colleagues 

By Ciaran Fagan, Social Affairs Corresspondent

A police officer wanted to know how Muslim colleagues and people on his beat felt while fasting during Ramadan – so he went without food himself. 

Sergeant Danny Graham, who works at Leicester's Spinney Hill Park police station, abstained from food during daylight hours for three consecutive days this week. 

On each occasion, he then went on to break his fast with worshippers at the Masjid Umar mosque in Evington Road. 

He said: "I wanted to do it because it gave me a small insight to what colleagues and people in the community do during Ramadan. 

"I did it for a day last year, but I went for three days this time. 

"It is a challenge but it was a pleasure to break the fast with the people at the mosque each time. 

"It makes you focus your thinking and appreciate all the things we have and that there are many poor people in this world who have little or no food and water." 

Inspector Bill Knopp, commander at Spinney Hill Park station, said: "Danny is responsible for an area which has a very diverse Muslim community and he wanted to step into their shoes for a while. 

"Last year, he fasted for a day to show solidarity with the four Muslim colleagues we have here at the station who were fasting at that time. 

"This time, he has gone for three days and that is a credit to him." 

Suleman Nagdi, spokesman for the Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations, said: "I'm sure members of the community will appreciate Sgt Graham's gesture. 

"It's a good example of how people in Leicester want to learn about each other. 

"Fasting helps people realise how fortunate they are when there are so many in this world who do not have even the basics – as we are seeing in East Africa at the moment." 

The dates of Ramadan, which concludes at the end of the month, change each year because they are governed by the lunar calendar.
This year, members of the community will face some of the longest days in recent times, on occasions fasting for about 19 hours. 

Pc Yusuf Nagdi, who works at Spinney Hill Park station, told the Mercury last week how he combined his duties with his faith commitments. 

He said: "It is a juggling act, but one that I feel I can do well, thanks to a few changes such as when I start work, and fitting in prayers during my patrols. 

"Obviously, if there was an incident that would take priority, but as long as I am not too busy, I am encouraged to pop into the local mosques in my beat, in uniform, and carry out my prayers."