On Monday 6 September 2010, officers of Faiths Together in Lambeth (FTIL) visited Lambeth Borough Commander Mr Nick Ephgrave to receive a signed memorandum of understanding. Pictured with Mr Ephgrave and PC Javid Rana are Smarajit Roy (Treasurer), Alan Gadd (Chair), and Saleha Jaffer (Secretary).
Faith is one of the six diversity strands identified by the MPS. Locally, Lambeth Borough Police have an action group, Lambeth equalities and diversity action group (L.E.D.A.G). This group focuses on promoting diversity, not just internally but also externally. The memorandum of understanding highlights the importance of faith and the need to engage, support, and work closely with our local community and partners. Alan Gadd, the Chair of FTIL, hopes that the memorandum will further strengthen the link between Lambeth Borough Police and the faith groups' within the community. FTIL is a borough wide multi-faith forum, formally established in July 2009. Its aim is to encourage and enable people of different faiths and cultures to understand and respect one another as 'People of faith'. The forum is an independent body which has been supported in it's development by Lambeth Council.
Javid Rana, Lambeth Police's strand lead for faith and belief, states, "FTIL is multi-faith organisations who are not focused on any one particular faith". He further adds, "Partnership working and engaging with local community is crucial in modern day policing as it inevitably improves public confidence, and working with the FTIL will help the MPS to build on existing relationships and create further links with our local community, thus improving community cohesion".