Ready to join the police?

Off By Ed Hanna

Thames Valley Police (TVP) is proud to offer a second career to those who have previously Served with Her Majesty’s Forces, and the force’s hard work in this area has been recognised with a Defence Employer Recognition Gold Award through the Armed Forces Covenant.

Police Officer Jacob and Detective Sergeant Tom are both TVP staff. Here they discuss their journey from Military to police service:

Jacob: After leaving the Army, I still wanted to work in a uniformed role and was drawn to policing – there are so many different departments and roles within Thames Valley Police.

Tom: I completely agree. I was in the RAF Police and when I left, I still had a sense of wanting to give back to society and support vulnerable people. There are opportunities for everyone; I am now a detective sergeant but I’ve also been in tactical roles such as armed response, violent crime and proactive drugs teams.

J: Did Military service prepare you for the police?

For me, both roles are demanding but being in the Army was life-changing and stood me in good stead to join the police.

T: Absolutely; the attitude and experience you gain from the Military gives you an excellent foundation for the police. You’re well equipped to deal with high stress situations confidently and quickly.

J: Policing is a unique and rewarding career with highs and lows but I wouldn’t do anything else now.

T: Every day is different but one thing is guaranteed, each job involves someone that needs your help – and you can make that difference.

If you would like to find out more about policing or are interested in applying, TVP is currently recruiting for a variety of roles via different entry routes.