From the Control Room to the National Stage

Ashna began her career with Thames Valley Police in 1988, at a time when few colleagues shared her ethnic background. Over the past three decades, she has been a driving force for change – championing equal representation and helping shape a more inclusive organisation.

Starting in Criminal Investigations Department (CID) records, Ashna transitioned to Contact Management in 2003 while expecting her first child. Since then, she has worked in Windsor and Kidlington, balancing the demands of frontline policing with her commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Beyond her day-to-day role, Ashna has been a longstanding member of the Support Association for Minority Ethnic staff (SAME), serving on its executive committee and advocating for greater representation across the force. Alongside this, Ashna dedicates many hours outside of work to the National Sikh Police Association, where she offers guidance around challenges police forces across the country are facing. Her efforts have contributed to Thames Valley Police being named Police Force of the Year at the GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards and achieving Race Equality Matters Trailblazer Silver status – the only force to do so.

Further to these achievements, Ashna recently attended the National Police Memorial Day at Coventry Cathedral, where she spoke on behalf of the Sikh community within policing – a powerful moment that reflected her continued leadership and voice for underrepresented groups.

Ashna’s dedication to SAME and her work with the National Black Police Association (NBPA) have now been recognised nationally, with her receiving the NBPA’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award – highlighting her impact, leadership, and unwavering commitment to equality.

With a career spanning nearly four decades, Ashna has been a pillar of strength, professionalism and advocacy for inclusion have left a lasting legacy within Thames Valley Police and beyond.

Please join us in congratulating Ashna on this well-deserved award, a powerful reminder of the impact our Contact Management teams and support networks have – working quietly behind the scenes, yet playing a vital role in shaping inclusive and effective policing.

Learn more about a career in Contact Management with Thames Valley Police by visiting our Contact Management webpage.