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Superintendent ‘full of pride’ as

                                             daughter begins detective training

       birthday, and she reveals telling him was a   Proud father and Superintendent Phil      Having spent 28 years in the Force, Phil
       “very emotional moment”.              Asquith says he is full of pride as his   explained that 22 of those were as
          “I was so excited to try my uniform on   daughter begins her detective training   detective, with him leaving that role
       for the first time. That was such a proud   with the same Force where he has spent   following his recent promotion to
       moment,” she says.                    almost 30 years working.          superintendent.
          “I’m a very patriotic person. As cheesy as      While Phil prepares to retire in two      “I’ve enjoyed being a detective more
       it sounds, I’m proud of everything this   years’ time, his daughter Amelia hopes to   than any other role I’ve had,” he added,
       country achieves and that empowers the   launch her career as a detective, having   “I’ve experienced a whole raft of stuff and
       idea of me wanting to serve the people.”  recently began training as part of the   it’s shown me that your career in the
          Recognising that she would be naïve to   Degree Holder Entry Programme, the first   police can go in any direction.
       head into this course with rose-tinted   of its kind at West Midlands Police.     “This is my first time back in uniform
       glasses on, she says she anticipates the role      Amelia (23) is one of the first ever   for almost 20 years. I’m excited to see
       will come with its challenges.        students to be part of the two-year course,  what’s to come. The way I see it, change is
          “I’m trying to take each day as it comes   which has been designed for aspiring   always going to happen, there’s no point
       and I try not to let my mind dwell on the   detectives who already hold a degree.  worrying about it and, instead, you should
       what ifs, because that’s dangerous territory.      “Like every parent, who has seen what   grab it with both hands.
       I know the risks that come with the job but   I’ve seen, I was initially full of      “What I do know is, if you put the
       in my opinion, the only fear is fear itself,” she   apprehension when Amelia told me she   effort in, you can get anywhere you want
       explains.                             wanted to be a detective,” said Phil, who   in life.”
          Admitting she is “always eager to learn”,   joined the police back in 1994.     Phil said that he believes the digital
       Amelia says she is “constantly trying to      “A former officer and friend of mine   skills that young recruits bring with them,
       better” herself.                      said to Amelia that in the police you have   complements the knowledge that
          “I’m really enjoying the course so far,” she   to be prepared to run towards someone   experienced officers have.
       added.                                who might punch you in the face and      “I always say I have a ‘copper’s nose’,
          “I’m sure there will be some bumps in   that’s exactly it. I know the risks that come  which means I can spot if someone is
       the road along the way but that is absolutely   with the job and I know just how   shifty straightaway. But when it comes to
       fine.”                                dangerous it can be. I wanted to try to   all that cyber stuff, that’s where I struggle,”
                                             shield her from that.             he explained.
                                                “But, once Amelia has explained her      “I don’t understand social media at all
                                             reasons for wanting to join the police, of   but the younger officers, they can’t seem
                                             course, I was full of pride for her.  to live without it.
                                                “She has always been inquisitive and      “We can all share our experience, to
                                             seeing me work in the police obviously   make us stronger and deliver the best
                                             ignited a spark in her.”          service.”
                                           PCSO turned student


                                           detective hopes to grow

                                           career in force




                                              “But being a detective will tick a lot of      “And, in some instances, we would go
         Sophie Stevens.                   boxes for me. And having spoken to my   to people’s houses, and we would be the
              n ambitious Police Community   sergeant, I realised that this was an   first person they would have seen in ages.
              Support Officer (PCSO) who joined   opportunity for me to really get my teeth   It was sometimes emotional – just
         Athe Force in 2020 is one of the first   into something in the Force.  because we’re in the police, we’re still
         ever students to enrol into a brand-new      “I think I will be able to use a lot that I   human.”
         two-year detective programme at West   learnt in my degree, as well as the skills      Sophie says being a PCSO has
         Midlands Police.                  and knowledge I have gained during my   definitely helped her with her confidence
            Sophie Stevens is almost a month into   time as a PCSO.”            but admits that she is apprehensive
         the Degree Holder Entry Programme, a      Sophie joined the police in January   about some of the challenges she might
         course designed specifically for those who   2020, just a few months before the world   face as a detective.
         have previously gained a degree.  went into lockdown due to the coronavirus      “My fear is seeing my first dead body
            The programme comes almost two   pandemic.                          – I’ve luckily not had to see one yet, even
         years after Sophie joined the Force,      “Covid has affected everyone   though I’ve been with the Force for 18
         something she dreamt of since she was   differently,” said Sophie, “The past 18   months now.
         just a young girl.                months weren’t as I expected. You couldn’t      “I’m excited about training but I don’t
            “I’d always wanted to be in the police,   prepare for the challenges we faced.  think you can teach everything in the
         since I was little but being a detective had      “People’s freedom was taken out of   classroom and I’m a practical, visual
         never really crossed my mind,” said Sophie,   their hands. We, as officers, had to adapt   learner, so I can’t wait to finally put my
         whose degree is in sociology.     how we dealt with people.            uniform on and get out there.”


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