Page 65 - Future Leaders 2018-2019

hen I was younger I was a bit you are serving and having direct
sceptical of the police, having responsibility around changing people’s
Whad some negative encounters lives for the better. 2012–2015
with them such as being stopped and One thing I’ve personally achieved was Studied for, and graduated with,
searched. But I realised that you can’t addressing a long-term drug-dealing a degree in international relations
understand or change systems from the problem. I spent time mapping addresses from the University of St Andrews.
outside, so I got involved with policing that had been linked to the supply of
to make a di erence. That’s what Police heroin and crack cocaine, working with 2012–2015
Now’s mission is all about. colleagues to locate the intelligence we’d Listening volunteer with the
Figuring out what is important to you received. Some of these locations had university’s Nightline.
and what you don’t want to compromise been open for 15 years, and the di erence
on can help you to nd the right career. 2014–2015
Attending university careers fairs taught Director of the university’s
me about what I didn’t want to do! Lots of Nightline.
corporate companies were in attendance
and their world just didn’t draw me in. What sets Police Now 2015–2016
I realised that what was important to me Worked as a study support assistant
was serving the public and that I wanted apart is that while at a college.
a job where I was out engaging with learning how to be a
people instead of sitting behind a desk. 2016
police o cer you are Joined Police Now’s programme.
PUTTING PERSONAL encouraged to think
EXPERIENCE INTO PRACTICE critically about how 2017
I think what made me stand out when things should be done. Received an Achieving Cheshire
applying to Police Now was that I was Excellence award: the highest award
100 per cent myself. I even critiqued o ered by Cheshire Constabulary.
elements of policing that had personally
a ected me. Police Now wants people after we’d closed them down was 2018
to remain themselves even as police amazing. I saw people coming outside Finished Police Now’s programme.
o cers; the police need to represent who had previously been unwilling to
everyone in society. speak to the police; they were really
My communication skills were also grateful. I wrote some guidance on best
valuable – not just talking to people practice around the closure of these Now has links to. It gives you connections
but being able to listen and quickly premises and that’s what won me the so that, if you do want to leave policing,
understand what the issue is. This ability Achieving Cheshire Excellence award. there might already be someone who is
was enhanced by me becoming heavily keen to employ you. I was seconded to PA
involved with Nightline, a Samaritan- CHANCES TO CHALLENGE Consulting; they picked our brains about
inspired student listening service, at AND CHANGE STRATEGY policing and we also looked into whether
university. Getting a job supporting What sets Police Now apart is that, while they could assist the police in terms of
college students after graduating also learning how to be a police o cer, you o cer wellbeing.
gave me experience of working with are encouraged to think critically about I have chosen to stay in policing, but
people who had personal issues at home how things should be done. You learn even within the police there are so
or complex needs such as learning about various strategies and then choose many specialisms you can go into:
disabilities and autism. As a police the one that will work best, or even come examples include covert policing,
o cer, I use these skills every day up with your own solution. Every 100 counterterrorism or child protection,
and feel comfortable supporting days you present to peers on the work as well as emerging areas such as cyber
vulnerable people. you’ve done, sharing your best practice policing. Everyone has a di erent skillset
and what hasn’t worked. This keeps you that policing can draw upon and help you
GETTING TO THE ROOT focused on creating an impact and helps to develop further.
OF A PROBLEM to grow that evidence base of di erent My aim is to become a detective. There’s
Police Now focuses on neighbourhood strategies. People might have varying an initial exam, which I’ve already passed,
policing, which appealed to me as I am opinions on how to solve a problem, but followed by a seven-week training course
drawn to problem solving and the more everyone’s motivation is the same – it’s and then placements within di erent
complex issues behind crime. A problem such a positive working environment. specialisms over the subsequent 12
comes to our attention because a crime months. I’m also studying towards a
has taken place, but rather than only CHOOSING WHERE part-time masters degree in policing,
dealing with the ‘crime element’ we TO GO NEXT policy and leadership with the University
come up with long-term strategies to Whether you stay in policing after of Portsmouth – but I still have enough
address the causes. We have weekly or completing the programme is up to you. time to spend with friends, family and my
fortnightly meetings with social housing The skills you learn will be useful in other dog! Having completed the Police Now
providers, social care, the NHS and the areas such as the civil service or business programme means that I will maintain
re service to bring the right people to generally. Everyone has the opportunity that drive to transform society for the
the table. The rewards last a long time to do a secondment of up to four weeks better, whatever role I am in.
and a ect a whole community. Being a during the programme, which can be
neighbourhood police o cer really is either in a di erent area of policing or To change the story like Upile,
about being a leader in the community with a di erent organisation that Police please visit: www.policenow.org.uk

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