Nasrul Ismail, University of Bristol Law School Alumnus, former research assistant and current marketing consultant, has been awarded an Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner's Pride Award. 

 

His nomination reads: 'Nasrul’s expertise in both research and performance management, have made him the ‘intelligence brain’ behind crime reduction in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Nasrul’s capabilities to provide insights into the unknown territories are unparalleled. His research on the prevalence of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) drug users was the only research in the country on the topic to date. It transpires factors influencing drug use among BMEs in Bristol, such as availability of the drugs, and real and perceived barriers to access treatment.

His work was used by substance misuse services to reach out to localities with predominant BME communities to increase awareness of drug services. It also formed the local stop and search responses, following the recent criminalising of Khat by statutory partners in Bristol. His research was nominated for the Bristol BME Community Engagement Award 2013 for tackling inequality and exclusion, and adopted as a best practice in minority ethnic engagement by the Crosscare Migrants Project, Ireland.

Nasrul plays a pivotal role in performance management for crime reduction boards. He supported the Strategic Partnership Against Hate Crime (SPAHC), Integrated Response, Integrated Services (IRiS, an integrated management response for the most serious offenders in Bristol), Domestic and Sexual Abuse, Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Working Group, and Restorative Justice.

He is currently responsible for the performance monitoring for South Gloucestershire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT). He developed analytical tools, such as balanced scorecards, value for money calculations, and an evaluation matrix, and worked with commissioners, like yourselves, to justify why the services should be continually funded, against other competing interests, based on robust evidence. He never turns down a request for advice, and many turn to him for his wise counsel.

Nasrul has been entrusted to provide the reality check of ‘what works’ for his colleagues and superiors. Nasrul facilitated the IRiS Evaluation Board through understanding criminogenic of the IRiS offenders, process measures, and outcomes of the service. This informed the extension of the project for another year, and to other areas in Bristol before it is rolled-out across Avon and Somerset. He also assisted the de-commissioning of Nilaari, a BME-led drug treatment service in 2013, which attracted significant local political debate. Nasrul articulated a robust case for de-commissioning based on the performance of the organisation, and devised mitigation actions.

Nasrul has shown that he has produced, perhaps against the odds, sustained achievement that has required morality, courage, vision, and the ability to make tough choices and perform hard work. The PCC Pride Award will inspire not only Nasrul but also his colleagues, and crime reduction stakeholders. He will also be the first BME recipient, and is a cause celebre to inspire others from similar backgrounds to contribute towards the communities. It follows that I fully support Nasrul Ismail’s nomination for the PCC Pride Award.'