The future of the frontline: Hijab introduced the police uniform, the first officer to wear it ‘proud’

When the Christchurch terror attack occurred, Zeena Ali was inspired to join the police force to help her Muslim community.

And this week she will not only graduate as a police officer, she will become the first in New Zealand to don a police-issued hijab as part of her uniform.

Ali, 30, even worked with police to design a garment that was functional for her new role and considerate of her religion.

She told the Herald that the design process began even before she started at the Police College, testing various materials and styles and offering recommendations and improvements.

More tweaks and changes were made before the recruiting course started, so you had the necessary equipment, and you even have a version to use for graduation.

Ali will be stationed in the Tāmaki Makaurau area and is excited to keep up.

“It feels great to be able to go out and show off the New Zealand Police hijab as part of my uniform,” he said.

“I think seeing it, more Muslim women will also want to join.”

Ali remembers the time when he decided to switch his career from customer service to law enforcement.

“One of the security guards I was working with was going to join the police and asked me to help her,” he said.

“When I started that process, the Christchurch terrorist attack happened and that’s when I realized that more Muslim women were needed in the police force, to go and support people with things like this.

“If I had joined the police earlier, I would have been there to help.”

Ali was born in Fiji and moved to New Zealand with her family as a child.

She said she was proud to represent the Muslim community, especially women, and hoped to inspire others to join the police force and help broaden the demographics of the front line.

Having a police-branded hijab would mean women who may not have previously considered policing because they weren’t sure how the paper would incorporate their religion or culture.

“It’s great, the police went out of their way to make sure that the hijab I’m wearing meets my health and safety requirements as well as my own personal needs,” she explained.

“They worked closely with the Massey School of Design, they came to visit me and we made adjustments to the hijab.

“I’m proud to wear it and I hope other people are proud of me too.”

Ali said he appreciated the police considering their personal needs, both in college and in their future role.

“At the university they had a prayer room and halal meals,” he said.

“When I had to go swimming, they were fine with me wearing long sleeves.”

Valuing diversity is one of the six core police values, along with professionalism, respect, integrity, empathy, and commitment to Maori and the Treaty of Waitangi.

“We recognize the value that different perspectives and experiences bring to improve what we do,” Police said.

“We need people with a variety of skills, backgrounds and levels of experience – diversity is essential if we are to effectively serve the needs of New Zealand communities now and in the future.”

Police said there were certain qualities and skills they looked for during the recruiting process as they worked to build a “high performance culture, where different perspectives are valued.”

“By reflecting on the communities we serve and appreciating different thinking, we aim to achieve better results and problem solving.”

Ali’s wing, who will graduate tomorrow, was “very diverse” and the recruits outnumbered their male colleagues.

Of the graduates, 51.3% were women, and 48.7% of the graduates were of ethnicity other than European.

Maori officers make up 25% of the wing.

“I think it’s great,” Ali told the Herald.

“And we need more Muslim women to help out in the community, most of them are too scared to talk to the police and would probably close the front door if a man showed up to talk to them.”

“If we have more women showing up, a more diverse front line, then we can reduce more crime.”

In 2008, the police introduced a turban to the uniform and Nelson Constable Jagmohan Malhi became the first officer to wear it on duty.

Until then he had to give up the turban on duty, even though it is considered an important part of his Sikh faith.