A Jewish police constable here who is religiously observant has won an agreement allowing him to not work on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays.
Although the decision applies to all religious and ethnic minorities, the deal struck between police attorneys and the Board of Deputies of British Jews represents a personal victory for Constable Nigel Brown of the Metropolitan London Police.
For two years, Brown fought Scotland Yard for changes in work rules that would allow swapping shifts in order to meet religious obligations.
Still, he had been forced to work on the Sabbath. Brown, who wears a kipah and tzitzit, would put in his time but attempt in every way possible to minimize breaking religious law, he said. For example, he would not write a traffic ticket on Saturdays.
Once, called to investigate a burglary in an Orthodox home on a Friday night, he found the place in darkness. Brown amazed the owner by saying he also could not turn on the light.
For a time, Brown was able to trade Saturday shifts for Sundays, Christmas and Easter duty. But that ended when a new superior took over.
Brown said he told himself, “I had to make a choice of giving up being an Orthodox Jew, leaving the force, or fighting.”
It proved a difficult fight. Brown had initially been backed by the Police Federation, but it pulled out because his problem applied to only a minority of its members.
The Commission for Racial Equality filed a brief on his behalf, but withdrew it.
Finally, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which had been criticized for not taking a stand, began lobbying for an acceptable outcome.
Two weeks ago, police attorneys asked for a meeting and an agreement was finally reached.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
