Honestly, I think the fact that each day still excites me. You never know what you’re going to come in to each day, and every incident we attend is different. When I’m doing my normal job with the neighbourhood team, you inevitably have the real highs and lows that come with policing, but I still go home feeling excited for tomorrow. With the public order side of my role, I get to experience so many different things like attending big football events, festivals, and so many other things that make work not really feel like work at all.

Just do it. You might have reservations as to whether you have what it takes or you’re suited to the role but until you do it you won’t know, so just go for it. I’d also say it’s really important to try and not take work home with you. Your team will become a massive support system for you so lean on them whenever you need, they’ll be like a second family before you know it.

Probably joining young and not necessarily having the confidence that general life experience brings. I did also find it challenging to change forces as each area polices differently, but then you soon remember that policing changes so frequently anyway and everyone is constantly adapting so it makes you feel much more included in the common goal rather than an ‘outsider’. 

Ever since I was a little kid I’ve always wanted to be a police officer, specifically an armed police officer, so I’ve purposely directed my career in that direction. There’s a lot of support like mentor schemes that help with the applications so I’m really hopeful I’ll land the dream job in the future.