When I was at secondary school, I told the careers advisor I wanted to join the police. He said, “You don’t need college for that. You’re smart. Choose something else.” So I followed a different path, college, then university, but I never quite felt I’d found my place. Eventually, I left university and worked in a nursery for seven years, before moving into retail for the flexibility it offered when I became a mum.
After the birth of my second child in March 2020, I started thinking seriously about joining the police again. I would spend my evenings watching police shows, craving the challenge and excitement. One evening, I made the decision, a decision 18 years in the making, and applied to become a Special Constable with my local force. It came as a surprise to my family, but the desire had never really left me.
The process was tough. I doubted myself constantly. My first few shifts were nerve-wracking. I felt out of place, tripping over my boots and questioning whether I belonged. But I stuck with it. Over two years, I worked two late shifts a week and attended everything from car crashes and burglaries to missing persons and even murders. The jobs that affected me most were the ones involving children. As a mother, I was often asked to support and comfort young people, and I found real purpose in keeping them safe. Some of the things I witnessed will stay with me forever, but I learned to cope by talking openly with colleagues and family.
Eventually, I applied to become a full-time officer with a Home Office force and was offered a place. Around the same time, I heard that British Transport Police were recruiting for part-time officers for the first time. I didn’t know much about BTP, but the opportunity seemed tailor-made for me, a way to balance career ambition with family life. I applied and was thrilled to be accepted.
Before joining, I’ll admit, I had some of the common misconceptions about BTP that a lot of people still have. I genuinely thought they didn’t use cars. We do, plenty of them, including vans, and I drive one regularly. I’d also assumed BTP only dealt with fare evasion and suicides. In reality, we handle serious incidents every day, robbery, sexual offences, violent crime, it’s certainly not just tickets.
Some people think BTP must be boring compared to Home Office forces. In truth, it’s different. In the Home Office I was mostly entering people’s homes, while with BTP the majority of our work happens in public spaces like train stations or on board trains. But crime is crime, no matter where it happens. We still deal with big, complex, fast-moving incidents and the variety keeps things exciting.
Training with BTP was refreshing. Our group was diverse, mostly women, slightly older, multilingual, and many of us were parents. We brought something that can’t be taught, life experience. That perspective has shaped the kind of officer I’ve become.
Today, I work three days a week on response in Central London, something I never imagined doing. Sometimes I catch a glimpse of myself in uniform, driving a police van past Big Ben, and I wish I could show that image to my 16-year-old self. The girl who was bullied and lacked confidence would never have believed it.
There’s something special about working in our capital city, the pace, the people, the scale. I love the variety of the job. I love being nosey, which turns out to be a very useful trait in policing. I enjoy getting out, talking to people, and being proactive. Sitting and waiting for jobs isn’t my style. Policing is what you make of it.
Since becoming a police officer, my confidence has soared. Friends and family noticed the change almost immediately. I used to be quite argumentative, I always wanted to win, but now I’m much calmer, more self-aware, and better at listening. I know the law. I feel safe and capable, even off duty. Most importantly, I feel like I have a purpose beyond being “mum,” and I’m proud to wear the uniform every day.
BTP has been nothing but supportive. It genuinely feels like being part of a family. I’ve had some incredible moments since joining:
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The first time I saw myself in uniform.
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The first time I knocked on a door and called out “It’s the police!”
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My first blue-light run with sirens wailing and cars parting in front of me.
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My first arrest, although I did say “I’m sorry, I’m going to have to arrest you,” something I’ve never apologised for since.
This job has changed my life. I don’t know exactly where my career will take me next, but I’m excited to find out.
