PC Umar, the first hijab-wearing officer within her policing area, advocated for the needs of Muslim women in policing to create “a more inclusive culture” across the service, the federation added.

However, Sir Mark Rowley told the BBC PC Umar’s achievement had been met with an “online tirade” of racist and misogynistic abuse.

He said: “The federation put out this really positive thing about this award, and the online tirade of vileness, of racist, anti-Islam and all sorts of other abuse, and misogynistic, was horrific.

“At one extreme, somebody did an AI-generated image and put a suicide bomb on her.

“I mean, the stuff out there is just vile.”

Sir Mark said female officers and those from minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely to suffer online abuse.

Sir Mark added that the same is true for women MPs, nodding to PC Umar’s role as an operational officer working to protect parliamentarians who face abuse and threats

The commissioner added in a statement: “Every career path is open to you regardless of whether you happen to wear a kippah, turban or hijab like Fiona.

“She is being celebrated for being an excellent office demonstrating this reality. But it angers me that not for the first time, a day that should have been a celebration for Fiona was marred by hateful, intolerant abuse online.

“These people haven’t met Fiona. They know nothing of her important work. They just saw that she is a female Muslim officer who wears a hijab and decided she wasn’t deserving as a result.”

Chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents rank and file police officers, Paula Dodds said: “PC Fiona Shaik Umar is an incredible police officer who has been rightly recognised for her outstanding work.

“That’s what we should be celebrating. Not discussing the vile racist abuse directed towards her by cowardly keyboard warriors. The same people who don’t have an ounce of her courage or her sense of duty.

“We stand in solidarity with the commissioner in his condemnation of the torrent of abuse she has sadly had to endure.

“We are supporting Fiona and will continue to unashamedly celebrate the work of her, and our colleagues of all backgrounds. The disgusting bigots will not win.”

PC Umar was commended by the federation for leading the development of the Hijab Project, through which new uniform options were introduced to meet the needs of Muslim women officers.

She has provided one-to-one support to Muslim officers and staff and strengthened relationships between policing and Muslim communities, the federation said.

Reacting to receiving the award, she said: “I’m truly humbled to receive this award because I’m super passionate about the work I do around representation and inclusion for women in policing.

“I never thought about a career in the police until my daughter at the time said to me, ‘Can women like you do that job?’

“I was really offended because obviously she’d never seen anyone who looked like me being a police officer, and it’s because of that that I have continued to do this work and to try and create a space for women who look like me in policing across the UK.”

Met Police Chief Blasts ‘Hateful, Intolerant’ Abuse Aimed at Female Muslim Officer

The head of the Metropolitan Police has condemned a wave of racist, anti-Muslim and misogynistic abuse directed at a female Muslim officer after she received an award recognising her contribution to women in policing.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Met’s commissioner, described the online attacks against PC Fiona Shaik Umar as “vile”, saying that a moment that should have been a celebration of her achievements had instead been overshadowed by hostility.

PC Umar received the Outstanding Contribution to Women in Policing Award at the Police Federation’s annual conference in October 2026. The recognition reflected her work supporting female officers, improving representation and helping Muslim women pursue careers in the police service.

However, the announcement triggered an online backlash, including offensive comments about her faith and appearance. One particularly disturbing example involved an AI-generated image depicting her with a suicide bomb, according to reports of the controversy.

The incident has renewed concerns about the abuse faced by women in public service, particularly those from minority backgrounds. It has also raised questions about the consequences of online hostility for officers who work to protect the public.

An award overshadowed by online hostility

PC Umar was recognised for her contribution to making policing more accessible to women from different backgrounds. Rather than focusing solely on her own career, her work has included supporting colleagues and helping improve the experience of Muslim women serving in uniform.

The award was intended to acknowledge those efforts. Instead, the announcement became the starting point for a wave of hostile online commentary.

Sir Mark said the abuse included racist, anti-Islamic and misogynistic material. He expressed particular anger at the AI-generated image that portrayed the officer with a suicide bomb, describing the content as deeply offensive.

The commissioner also challenged those who questioned whether PC Umar deserved her recognition. He argued that the people directing abuse at her knew nothing about her work and had judged her simply because she was a Muslim woman wearing a hijab.

His intervention was intended to make clear that the police service should be open to people from all backgrounds and that officers should be judged by their conduct, professionalism and contribution.

The episode demonstrates how quickly a positive announcement can be transformed into a public controversy when social media users direct hostility towards the person being celebrated.

Who is PC Fiona Shaik Umar?

PC Umar has built a career that includes supporting women in policing and improving representation within the service. She was recognised as the first hijab-wearing officer in her policing unit, an experience that helped shape her commitment to making the profession more accessible.

One of her most significant contributions has been her involvement in the Hijab Project. The initiative helped introduce uniform options designed to accommodate the needs of Muslim women officers.

Uniform policies can influence whether people feel able to enter a profession while maintaining their religious practices. By helping address these practical questions, the project sought to make policing more inclusive without changing the fundamental responsibilities of the role.

PC Umar has also provided individual support to Muslim officers and police staff and worked to strengthen relationships between the police and Muslim communities.

Her motivation has a personal dimension. In a video shared following her award, she explained that she had not originally imagined a career in policing. Her perspective changed when her daughter asked whether women like her could become police officers.

The question made her recognise the importance of visible representation. She subsequently became committed to helping create opportunities for other women who might otherwise struggle to imagine themselves working in the profession.

Her award therefore recognised more than a single achievement. It acknowledged sustained efforts to support colleagues and help broaden access to policing.

Why the commissioner intervened

Sir Mark Rowley’s response reflected concern about the effect that targeted abuse can have on public servants.

Female officers and people from minority ethnic backgrounds can face additional hostility online, particularly when their work attracts national attention. Women politicians have also experienced similar patterns of abuse, with attacks frequently focusing on personal characteristics rather than professional performance.

PC Umar works in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, a frontline unit responsible for protecting Parliament and parliamentarians. The role involves responsibilities connected to public safety and the protection of democratic institutions.

The commissioner argued that the abuse directed at her was especially troubling because it followed recognition of her professional contribution.

He stressed that people should be able to pursue a career in policing regardless of whether they wear a hijab, turban or kippah. His message was that religious identity should not determine whether someone is regarded as deserving of professional respect.

The intervention also served as a public show of support for an officer who had become the target of personal attacks. In circumstances like these, support from senior leadership can help demonstrate that discriminatory behaviour is not accepted as an ordinary part of public service.

The wider problem of online abuse

The controversy involving PC Umar reflects a wider challenge for public institutions. Social media allows people to discuss police decisions, question public officials and express disagreement. But the same platforms can also be used to spread threats, racist insults and manipulated imagery intended to humiliate or intimidate individuals.

Artificial intelligence has added another dimension to this problem. Images can now be generated or altered to place people in fictional situations that appear threatening or degrading. Even when such material is fabricated, it can circulate rapidly and expose the targeted person to further harassment.

The use of an AI-generated image portraying PC Umar with a suicide bomb was particularly serious because it associated an identifiable officer with terrorist violence without any basis established by the image itself.

Such material can reinforce damaging stereotypes about Muslims and create a hostile environment for people whose religious identity is visible.

There is also a distinction between legitimate criticism and targeted abuse. Members of the public are entitled to question police policies, challenge the use of public money and debate whether awards are justified. Those discussions can be vigorous without becoming racist, misogynistic or threatening.

When criticism shifts towards personal intimidation based on religion or gender, it risks discouraging people from participating in public life.

A challenge for women entering policing

Representation remains an important issue for police forces seeking to recruit people from across the communities they serve.

Potential recruits may consider whether they will be accepted by colleagues, whether their religious practices can be accommodated and whether they will receive support if they experience discrimination.

For Muslim women who wear a hijab, visible examples of officers who have built successful careers can help challenge assumptions about who belongs in policing. Practical initiatives such as uniform adaptations can also remove barriers that might otherwise prevent someone from applying.

PC Umar’s work has focused on these issues. Her experience demonstrates how individual officers can contribute to institutional changes that benefit colleagues beyond their immediate team.

However, online hostility can undermine those efforts if women see prominent examples of discrimination and conclude that entering public service will expose them to persistent personal attacks.

The response from senior officers, professional organisations and colleagues can therefore have an impact beyond the immediate incident. Publicly supporting officers who experience abuse helps communicate that they are not expected to face discrimination alone.

Support from policing organisations

The Metropolitan Police Federation also defended PC Umar, emphasising that her award recognised her professional work and her commitment to women in policing.

The federation’s support highlighted the importance of keeping the focus on her contribution rather than allowing the online backlash to dominate the discussion.

Recognition of this kind can encourage other officers to take on mentoring, recruitment and inclusion work. It can also help make clear that improving representation is not separate from the broader mission of public service.

A police force depends on public confidence, professional standards and the ability of officers to work effectively with diverse communities. Hostility directed at an officer because of her religion risks damaging relationships that local policing relies upon.

Addressing such behaviour requires more than public statements. Depending on the circumstances, platforms and authorities may need to consider whether particular posts violate their rules or whether specific threats warrant further action.

Any response should be proportionate and consistent with the law, while recognising the seriousness of targeted harassment.

A message about dignity and public service

The controversy surrounding PC Umar has placed a spotlight on the difficulties faced by public servants whose identities make them targets for prejudice.

Her award was intended to celebrate work that helps women enter policing and build careers within the profession. The subsequent abuse attempted to shift attention away from those achievements and towards her religion and appearance.

Sir Mark Rowley’s condemnation made clear that the Metropolitan Police supports her and rejects the idea that wearing a hijab makes an officer less deserving of recognition.

The wider question is whether public institutions can create environments in which people are judged fairly and can perform their duties without being subjected to identity-based intimidation.

PC Umar’s career and her work on the Hijab Project demonstrate the practical value of supporting women who want to serve their communities. The reaction to her award shows that prejudice can still undermine those efforts.

Ultimately, the response to the incident should not be measured only by the strength of official condemnation. It will also depend on whether officers receive meaningful support, whether targeted abuse is addressed appropriately and whether future recruits can see that policing offers opportunities regardless of their background.

The award recognised PC Umar’s contribution to that goal. Despite the controversy, the purpose of her work remains clear: helping ensure that women who want to serve in the police have the opportunity to do so and are assessed on their abilities rather than their appearance or faith.