Bedfordshire Independent Advisory Group
Bedford and Luton Independent Advisory Groups (IAGs) were formed in 2001 and Central Bedfordshire IAG in 2010.
They provide an essential input to improving the quality of policing services to all communities. To effectively fight crime and protect the public we need independent advice which improves the accountability of policing through a transparent approach.
In 2021 the IAG was reviewed and restructured with the support of a working party of experienced IAG members. The body now consists of three panels, the Bedford Borough IAG, Luton Borough IAG and Central Bedfordshire IAG.
Strategic Management of the IAG is held by the force Community Cohesion Team – a small team of Officers dedicated to monitoring tension levels and integrating the Police and community.
All three panels act as critical friends to Bedfordshire Police in ensuring that all police services, policies, procedures and practices are free from any kind of direct or indirect discrimination, regardless of age, disability, gender re-assignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. They provide an essential input to improving the quality of policing services to all communities. To effectively fight crime and protect the public we need independent advice which improves the accountability of policing through a transparent approach.
Contact the IAG
If you wish to make contact with the IAG you can email the Community Cohesion team or call them on 01582 394018 and the officers will notify the IAG body.
Meet the IAG Chairs
Badrul is a Luton based professional with extensive experience in the Estates & Facilities sector, having worked in high profile and demanding environments in both private & public sectors. As a lifetime resident of Luton, he has keen interest in local policing and as a member of the IAG he has been actively involved since 2018 with recruitment, retention, training, welfare, representing community interests and ensuring transparency. Continuously striving to support improvements with the local constabulary and the local community.
Born and raised within Luton, Devinder has a good knowledge of the town along with its diverse communities. His work internationally puts him in touch with people from different beliefs and values and the experience developed, will enable him to bring a balanced yet independent view for the role within the IAG.
He is an active member of the local Sikh community and hopes that his approachability and understanding will further develop the cohesion between Luton’s communities and the Police.
- Ali Islam
- Atiyyah Younis
- Brin Shaw
- Delia Chiuzbaian
- Gary Feld
- Jahangir Shafi
- John Fullarton
- Lady Munya
- Loveness Bishi
- Mostaque Koyes
- Rhomi Ikhide
- Shamsuz Zaman
- Wayne Polsen
- Daniel Douglas
- Carol Parma
Jasbir Parmar is a former police officer having served in the Metropolitan Police during the 80’s. He has lived in rural Bedfordshire since 1987 and has run several businesses in Bedford Borough. He has been a member of IAG (North) since 2016 and takes an active part in policing and community issues.
Paul Cain is a retired Company Director who was born in Luton and has lived in Bedfordshire for most of his life.
He has always shown a real interest in Policing and was a member of the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel as an Independent Lay Member from its inauguration in 2012 until 2020, being Chair for three years. During that time, he has viewed frontline Policing on many occasions by attending ‘Ride Along’ with both Bedfordshire and Metropolitan Police forces.
In addition to the IAG, Paul is a Parish Councillor and represents the Parish on EWR Bedfordshire Local Representatives Group.
Paul joined the IAG in 2021 and was accepted as a member and vice chair for Central Bedfordshire in early 2024 and in November 2024 moved to Bedford as Vice Chair. He has always had a keen interest in equality and community issues.
- Caroline Leonard
- Ian Smith
- Jagtar Singh
- Manjit Sohal
- Mohmmed Masud
- Stephanie Grant
Born in Zimbabwe, Nigel Taylor has also lived in Northern Ireland, Australia and now currently lives in Dunstable with this wife and three daughters.
Over his 25-year career he has worked in leadership with all age groups, international settings and with people who have different beliefs and values to himself. This has included international travel, Youth Work, Inner-city Community Work, Inner-city regeneration, Pupil Referral Unit, Debt relief, School Chaplaincy and much more.
For the last seven years Nigel has served in a voluntary capacity on the Central Bedfordshire Equalities Forum which promotes equality and diversity in the categories of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
For the last decade he has led a Church in Dunstable that serves the wider community throughout the area.
Nigel brings a good base of knowledge and cross-cultural leadership experience to help ensure the focus of the South IAG is area-wide and not issue-based. He also has a collaborative leadership style that encourages varying viewpoints, bringing the strength of team to difficult situations.
Tom has been a Bedfordshire resident throughout his life. He spent the majority of his career working within the childcare field, initially working in residential care with adolescents. After this he was involved in the regulation of early years childcare working for Bedfordshire, then for Luton Borough Council and subsequently in Ofsted, as a senior officer in the national compliance, investigation and enforcement team. In this latter role he was regularly involved in tribunal and court work as well as the training of inspectors. Since his retirement Tom has been actively involved in the Bedfordshire Police volunteer watch schemes.
- Alexandra Jankovic
- John Waller
- Thomas O’Neil
- Tony Mansell
- Brenda Downie
What do the IAGs do?
Our Independent Advisory Groups are part of a national network designed with carefully researched terms of reference and structures, agreed by community groups and supported by the Police and the Home Office.
They:
- monitor, analyse and review Bedfordshire Police policies and procedures;
- provide advice and support to Bedfordshire Police on both operational and strategic matters;
- make recommendations and participate through the Bedfordshire Police structure to promote trust, confidence, respect, and partnership between Bedfordshire Police and the communities it serves;
- work closely but critically and independently with Bedfordshire Police to improve the quality and effectiveness of Bedfordshire Police Service and community safety and cohesion.