Former New Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent, Shabnam Chaudhri, was born in Karachi, Pakistan and came to London with her family at the age of two, settling in the East End of London. She joined the Metropolitan Police in 1989, achieving significant success investigating major crimes and gaining extensive detective experience in the management of pan-London incidents, as well as leading and managing firearms incidents and acquiring vast operational experience as a senior leader.

Shabnam has received a number of awards including the National Leadership Award in the British Association for Women in Policing Awards, the International Women in Policing Leadership Award, and the National No2H8 Crime Award for her work across communities.