How can police forces support Muslim colleagues who are observing the Islamic holy month?

Ramadan is a holy month where Muslims undertake religious requirements, and it is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The first and last dates of Ramadan are determined by the lunar Islamic calendar, and the holiday of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan.

The Ramadan start date for 2023 is expected to begin on Wednesday 22 March, following the sighting of the moon over Mecca. Lasting for 30 days, Ramadan will end on Friday 21 April, with the celebratory days of Eid al-Fitr starting on Saturday 22 April or Sunday 23 April.

• When does Ramadan start? Wednesday 22 March.
• How long is Ramadan? 30 days.
• When does Ramadan end? Friday 21 April.
• When Is Laylat al-Qadr? On or around Monday 17 April.
• When Does Eid al-Fitr Start? Saturday 22 April.

The lunar Islamic calendar means that the start date of Ramadan will fall earlier each year by just under two weeks versus the Gregorian calendar. Interestingly, countries closer to or on the Equator see relatively little change to the daylight hours during which they must fast. However, countries like the UK can face fasting lasting for more than 18 hours when the period falls later in the summer months.

To mark Ramadan, Muslims will devote themselves to their faith and will observe it through fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

It is important to appreciate that for Muslims, Ramadan is a very special opportunity to purify one’s own mind, body, and soul. Through good actions and worship, Muslims strive to attain higher levels of spirituality and subsequent reward. The act of fasting can have an impact on sleeping patterns. Sleep deprivation is also a significant factor in conjunction to abstaining from food and drink. This cycle then repeats itself for the duration of this month.

The demands placed on the body during the observation of Ramadan are significant, individuals observing will go a long time without food or drink during the working day. For police officers and police staff working shift patterns, being able to ensure they eat well and keep their fluids up is key. For those observing Ramadan this is not possible, so it is important employers understand and support employees during this time.

Here are some recommendations for officers and staff to help support their Muslim colleagues during Ramadan:

Recommendations for Muslim personnel:

Muslim officers and staff should notify their line managers at the earliest opportunity regarding any annual leave or workplace adjustments, to ensure they provide sufficient time to allow abstraction matters to be addressed.

Recommendations for managers:

• Wherever possible, promotion boards and interviews should be arranged outside of Ramadan, as many Muslims may have taken the time off work or may not be able to perform to their full potential during this month.
• Managers and colleagues may see a noticeable behavioural change in some individuals, which may be a natural consequence of the spirit of Ramadan. Muslim officers and staff may choose to observe periods of silence during the fast to emphasise self-discipline and respect, not to mention the physical impact and energy drain that fasting naturally brings.
• Managers should hold one-to-one meetings with Muslim officers and staff who have an intention to fast during Ramadan to discuss workplace adjustments

Guidance for one-to-one meetings:

During these meetings, managers should consider the following:

• Annual leave requests to be considered during this month. This is particularly important during the last 10 days, known as Itikaaf. Muslims may want this time off for special seclusion, meditation and self-reflection. Annual leave for Eid celebrations at the end of Ramadan should be looked upon favourably, as this is an extremely important time for Muslims.
• Flexible working needs during this month.
• Rearrangement of refreshment breaks to coincide with fasting opening and closing times for operational staff.
• Consider allowing frontline staff who are working during suhur or iftar to attend the local mosque to open or close fast during duty time. This will allow officers time for refreshments, while also being excellent community engagement for the force.
• Any training courses that would have an adverse impact on Muslim staff, such as public order training, personal safety training (PST) and fitness tests.
• If the line manager and staff member are unable to agree a workable solution, then the local AMP should be contacted for advice on a way forward. The local AMP may be able to recommend alternative solutions or to help manage expectations of staff members.

More guidance is available via the ‘Policing guidance for the Islamic month of Ramadan’ guide. 

Practice to Progress would like to wish a Happy Ramadan to all of our fellow colleagues, clients, and partners.