Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Female Muslim prison service officer speaks about her Ramadan observance

Parveen, with her experience, also motivates people from different cultures to join the service, which comes with many benefits

Female Muslim prison service officer speaks about her Ramadan observance

A prison officer named Sobia Parveen, a 31-year-old, talks about the observance of the holy month of Ramadan while she is posted in HMP Sudbury, a category D rehabilitation and resettlement prison near Ashbourne in Derbyshire that is home to around 600 prisoners.

Parveen, with her experience, also motivates people from different cultures to join the service, which comes with many benefits. One of the benefits is that the job includes 25 days of holiday and an excellent pension.


Parveen has a degree in childhood and youth studies and initially, she used to work in schools and nurseries. Later, she shifted to probation staff as a finance and debt advisor. Currently, she works as a prison officer after she was interested and applied for the job, firstly working with HMP Leicester.

sobia-parveen Sobia Parveen, probation officer

She interestingly shares that there are many people from diverse minority groups and communities, as HMPSS welcomes people from different cultures to work with. From first week of March, people from the Muslim community have been observing Ramadan fasting, and many interesting perspectives are being highlighted.

“I have lots of energy and I like talking to people and supporting them. I feel I can make a big difference. I get lots of job satisfaction I know I wouldn’t get if I just sat at a desk," says Parveen.

Parveen also mentioned the observance of the whole-day fast of Ramadan at the workplace, where various people observe Ramadan and fast from dawn to dusk.

She also talks about how tough her job is referring to the roles shown on TV as a prison officer, which is quite different from reality. She is an induction officer and is responsible for settling in new arrivals to HMP Sudbury, "Growing up with brothers, I was used to being in a male environment and I have strong personality. Talking and communicating are really important in this role, as are being firm and setting clear boundaries. Prisoners know they can come to for help, they know I'll be firm but fair," she says as she mentions her role.

Parveen, whose roots are in Pakistan, said she got a very caring attitude at a very young age and she used to take care of her late mother about the current scenario, and her mother has always supported her with her current work profile.

She expressed her dream to become a prison governor one day and she also shared that she wants to see women of colour in senior positions. She motivates other women, that the prison service, does not require a proper qualification but women can join in a support staff role.

She mentions skills like integrity, and strength, and then a woman can apply for the Officer Support Grade (OSG) role, which also involves many roles like a peacekeeper, counsellor, and teacher, which help anyone protect the public and have a positive impact.

Further, she talks about various specialised courses within and also the salary of £32,000 minimum, along with 25 days’ holiday allowance each year, a Civil Service pension, season ticket loans, retail discounts, an Employee Assistance Programme, and a Cycle to Work scheme.

More For You

The meeting between Trump and William took place at the UK ambassador's residence in Paris after the event. (Photo: Getty Images)
The meeting between Trump and William took place at the UK ambassador's residence in Paris after the event. (Photo: Getty Images)

Trump meets Prince William at Notre Dame reopening

US president-elect Donald Trump met Prince William on Saturday during the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The event marked the restoration of the historic landmark following a major fire in 2019.

Keep ReadingShow less
Princess of Wales hosts emotional Christmas service
Kate attends the "Together At Christmas" Carol Service" at Westminster Abbey in London on December 6, 2024. (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Princess of Wales hosts emotional Christmas service

PRINCESS OF WALES, Kate Middleton, hosted a Christmas service at Westminster Abbey on Friday (6) that reflected on "the most difficult times" as she returns to public life after her cancer diagnosis.

The London carol service intended to "reflect upon the importance of love and empathy, and how much we need each other, especially in the most difficult times of our lives", according to Kensington Palace office.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rotherham sexual assault convict to be released from prison: report
Banaras Hussain

Rotherham sexual assault convict to be released from prison: report

A MAN convicted of violent sexual offences in Rotherham is set to be released from prison on licence after serving nine years of a 19-year sentence.

The crimes of Banaras Hussain, 44, included rape, indecent assault, and actual bodily harm, were part of a prolonged pattern of abuse targeting vulnerable victims, some as young as 11.

Keep ReadingShow less
Birmingham gang convicted for £2.5m Covid fraud

Birmingham gang convicted for £2.5m Covid fraud

TWELVE members of an organised crime group from Birmingham, Walsall, and Yorkshire have been found guilty of defrauding over £2.5 million in Covid support grants through fraudulent claims.

The crime group exploited non-trading businesses and stolen identities to submit multiple Covid support claims, including Bounce Back Loans, HMRC payments, and various grants set up to assist struggling businesses and individuals during the pandemic.

Keep ReadingShow less
Migrant workers key to meet housing target, warn builders
Construction workers work on building residential houses and homes at a Homes by Strata building site, in Leeds, northern England on September 4, 2024. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Migrant workers key to meet housing target, warn builders

THE UK must urgently address a construction skills shortage, including by increasing migrant worker numbers, to achieve prime minister's target of building 1.5 million homes by the end of this parliamentary term, industry leaders have warned.

The National Federation of Builders, which represents small and medium-sized contractors, highlighted the scale of the challenge, pointing to an ageing workforce and declining numbers of apprentices, the Telegraph reported.

Keep ReadingShow less