Off The Beat

‘Nusrit Mehtab has gone through the Met like a force of nature. She has not compromised. She has fought for what is right, both for others and for herself. Her story is one worth reading.’ – Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC, author of Unlawful Killings‘A devastating critique of the Met’ * Mail on Sunday *‘Off The Beat lifts the filthy carpets at the Met Police and shines a light on the darkness below, exposing the long-standing and deeply ingrained cultures of racism and sexism within the ranks. Nusrit’s impactful story of her determination to rise through the ranks of the Metropolitan Police, despite her own colleagues trying to take her down at every turn, is both inspiring and shocking. At times hard to read, but a story that absolutely needs to be told. Gripping, fascinating and crucial to the future of UK policing.’ – Alice Vinten, author of On the Line‘Off the Beat, provides a disturbing account of institutionalised sexism and racism in the Metropolitan police told from the perspective of a tough and fiercely ambitious East End working class brown muslim woman who strove to rise up through the ranks from PC to Superintendent, facing resistance from her peers and superiors at every step of the way. The message is clear, until leadership is held accountable, the police will never change.’ – Harriet Wistrich, author of Sister in LawThis book should be read required reading for anyone even tangentially involved with policing, change management or hiring practices. This memoir is a detailed examination of how the institutional racist and sexist culture at the Metropolitan Police defeated a brilliant and tenacious woman of colour trying to improve the service from the inside. – Jamie Klingler, Co founder of Reclaim These Streets

Nusrit Mehtab is a former police officer, at one point the most senior female Asian officer in the Metropolitan Police. In 2017 Mehtab instigated an employment tribunal against them for racism and misogyny, and soon after left the police force after 30 years of service. She is now a lecturer in criminology and criminal justice at the University of East London and also mentors many young recruits and BAME officers. She hopes to change the force from the inside.