South Asian Heritage Month
We are delighted to be celebrating South Asian Heritage Month, which takes place from 18 July to 17 August.
We hear from Jaswant Narwal, CPS Chief Crown Prosecutor for London North, who recently won British Asian Woman of the Year, along with thoughts and personal stories from colleagues across the organisation.
Hear from CPS colleagues
CPS CCP wins British Asian Woman of Year
Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for London North, shares her thoughts on winning British Asian Woman of the Year 2024!
'Even plants can't survive without being firmly rooted'
CPS colleagues share why South Asian Heritage Month is important and reflect on this year's theme 'free to be me'.
"It's about being happy to stand up and say this is my background. This is who I am"
Chiran, CPS Senior District Crown Prosecutor
Naveesha
Hi, I’m Naveesha. South Asian Heritage Month is significant for me because it highlights all the achievements and success that South Asians have had and gives them a voice. It’s a chance to commemorate and honour South Asians as well as celebrating our culture and history in the UK.
My journey in the CPS started as an apprentice in Operational Delivery on the fees team in 2020. I’m now a Business Support Manager working in the Business Support Centre. This role means speaking to people from a mixture of departments, job roles and backgrounds which has been really enriching for me.
I’ve found the CPS to be incredibly diverse. The SEOCID Diversity and Inclusion Group holds talks from guest speakers which look at the different cultures, backgrounds and religions within the CPS. There have been South Asian speakers at these meetings who have held presentations on so many topics, sharing life experiences, cultures and their journeys in the CPS.
Amina
At the CPS I am free to be me.
This is the theme for this year and I am proud to say I am an amalgamation of the rich culture of this country as well as my Bangladeshi heritage.
I have worked at the CPS for seven years as a Paralegal Assistant. I inherited my strong work ethic from my parents, a tailor and a homemaker. Although my father was wheelchair-bound towards the end of his life, his hard-working approach, when he was able to, is what has stuck with me. I am part of large family unit and this has translated to a strong team approach in my professional life.
My commitment to academic pursuits was instilled from my parents at a young age and I graduated with a degree in law and went onto do post graduate diploma (LPC). My passion for the law has meant I have held positions as a Caseworker in the criminal justice unit and Intelligence Officer for Met Police, and has also led to my career in the Civil Service. I found it incredibly rewarding to be part of the legal processes and contributing to the resolution of cases which impact large parts of the community.
Community is a large part of my identity, and it features in my professional life in my voluntary work as part of the co-chair of the CPS Muslim Network, where awareness events are organised to nurture and facilitate the CPS diversity and inclusion vision.
Outside of work, my Bangladeshi heritage means I have a love for good food and colourful, embroidered clothes and this often reflected in my attire. I regularly cook for fundraisers and community events. My days of embroidering and hand stitching flowers on tablecloths and place mats as a hobby are long gone and have been replaced with shuttling my son to various sports activities!
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