After nearly three decades of dedicated service, Chief Superintendent Manjit Atwal QPM of Leicestershire Police is hanging up her uniform — closing the chapter on a groundbreaking career that broke barriers, uplifted communities, and inspired generations.
From her earliest days in Derbyshire as the eldest of five children in a Punjabi Sikh household, Manjit’s story has been one of quiet resilience and unwavering determination. Her father arrived in England in 1959, with plans to return to Punjab — but like many immigrants, he stayed, bringing his wife over in 1962 to begin a new life. Manjit, who didn’t speak a word of English until age four, recalls her childhood as rooted in Sikhi and family values — ones that would shape her entire career.
Picture credit: Pukaar News
“I was raised to care, support, and serve others — and that’s never left me,” Manjit says. “It’s been part of everything I’ve done, whether as a mother, a daughter, or in policing.”
Although she dreamed of becoming a nurse, life — and culture — took her down a different path. Married young and navigating a marriage marked by control and conflict, Manjit found strength in adversity. Her first interaction with the police came not as an officer, but as a woman seeking help. That experience, and the inner fortitude she had built over years in the hosiery industry managing over 100 women, sparked a new vision.
In 1996, Manjit joined Leicestershire Police. At the time, she was a mother of two — entering a profession still dominated by white men and traditional structures. But Manjit thrived. “I pinched myself that I got in,” she reflects. From her early days patrolling the Saffron Lane estate — one of the first officers of colour on the beat — to leading operations in the city centre, Manjit left an indelible mark.
Picture: Supplied
Her career saw her rise through the ranks to Chief Superintendent, and she took on key national roles, including secondment to the College of Policing and serving with the National Police Chiefs’ Council. She led on national strategy tackling Violence Against Women and Girls — a cause deeply personal to her.
A qualified hostage and crisis negotiator for 12 years, Manjit also chaired the Sikh Police Association and was the first woman of colour to chair Leicestershire’s Women’s Inclusive Network. Her journey was filled with accolades — but also obstacles.
“There were moments I felt I had to prove myself twice over,” she admits, recalling incidents of subtle — and not so subtle — racism. One particularly painful moment came during early training, when a fellow officer implied her success was due to a diversity quota, not merit. “She put a doubt in my mind that I had to work hard to silence — and I did, by always going above and beyond.”
Now, after 28-and-a-half years, Manjit is reflecting on a career defined not by title, but by impact.
“It was never just a job for me,” she says. “It was about making a difference — for victims, for my colleagues, for the communities I served.”
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“If someone said to me on day one ‘what’s your goal Manjit?’ I’d reply that my goal was to serve the communities and particularly to work for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, which is so multicultural. I never ever thought about promotions or anything like that. I joined to do a good job. I never joined to be a Sergeant, Inspector or Superintendent…”
As she steps into retirement, Manjit leaves behind a legacy of resilience, representation, and relentless service. Her story is one of triumph — not just over challenges, but in how she turned those challenges into fuel for change.
As she looks to the future, Manjit reflects on how policing shaped her life—and her family’s. “It’s not just a job. It’s a way of life. Your family lives through it with you,” she says. Now, she’s looking forward to reclaiming that time. With three family weddings lined up this year, she’s embracing the freedom of retirement—but not without purpose.
True to form, she’s already setting new goals. On May 17, Manjit will take part in the MoonWalk, a 26.2-mile night walk to raise funds for breast cancer, a cause close to her heart. “It’s about getting fit, raising money, and giving back—because that’s what I’ve always done,” she tells Pukaar.
She is also looking forward to spending time with her two grandsons, who live in the USA.
After 28 and a half years of service, Manjit’s retirement marks the end of a chapter—but not the end of her story. Her impact on policing, and the communities she served, will be felt for generations.
“I miss the uniform—it was part of who I was,” she says. “But I admire everyone still in policing. I genuinely wish them well. I really do.”
The girl who once cried in preschool because she didn’t understand a word of English ended up helping shape national policing policy. That’s the power of determination.
Picture: Supplied
