Police Constable Mia

Mia is just one of over 9,000 new recruits who've joined the police as part of the drive to recruit 20,000 new officers by March 2023. Here she tells us what she enjoys most about policing and the advice she'd give to others considering applying to become a police officer. 

What inspired you to become a police officer? 

The thing that inspired me to join the police was the endless amounts of opportunities that are available. I love that no two days are the same and the different challenges I will face. 

What do you enjoy most about being in the police?

I really enjoy attending jobs that end up changing the public perception of the police into a more positive one. 

How do you feel you’re making a difference?

My job lets me protect and safeguard vulnerable people from society’s most prolific offenders. 

What do your friends and family think about your career choice? 

My friends and family are extremely supportive. They were definitely nervous at first but I think that them seeing me so happy doing what I want to do has filled them with confidence. 

What entry route did you apply through? 

I applied for the police through the Bedfordshire Police website and was one of the final intakes on the IPLDP Plus course.

Was the application process what you expected?

The application process took almost a year in total. It was a long process but extremely thorough as they want to make sure they’re recruiting the right people for the job. It was a real mixture of written questions, interviews and physical assessments and they offer advice and support at each stage.

How have you found your training? What parts have you enjoyed most?

I loved the initial training. The trainers are amazing and are so passionate about policing which inspires us as new recruits. 21 weeks seems like such a long time but it flew by. I loved the role plays as they gave us the most realistic representation of what policing is really like. They use serving officers as actors which is amazing because they deal with these kind of scenarios each day and offer such good advice. 

As a female officer, do you feel you are treated any differently by your colleagues? 

Since joining my team I don’t feel like I’m treated any differently because I’m a female. They were so welcoming to me and my male colleagues when we joined.

How do you see your career in policing progressing?

I'm very excited for the career I have ahead of me. The thing about policing is that there’s so many paths to take with so many opportunities. I definitely have ideas of what paths I would like to take but that could all change. I am focused on my first two years for now and want to take in as much as I can to help me in the future with whatever road I choose to take my career down. 

What would you say to other people thinking about joining the police? 

I would say go for it! Be prepared to work really hard as it can be really challenging but it is also extremely rewarding and a lot of fun.