Nottinghamshire Police – Celebrating our Armed Forces
At Nottinghamshire Police, colleagues with Armed Forces backgrounds are helping build supportive networks for Veterans and Service-leavers to connect and thrive.
Luke Bettridge is a police constable with Nottinghamshire Police. He also chairs the Armed Forces Network, one of many support networks available to both police officers and police staff, which is currently preparing for its next Big Brew event and celebrations for Armed Forces Day in June.
What attracted you to join Nottinghamshire Police, and how has your Military experience helped you in your career?
Joining the police after Serving in the British Army felt like a natural progression. Initially, I was interested in transferring to the Royal Military Police, but at the time this was a slow and uncertain process, so I decided to leave the Army and apply to Nottinghamshire Police instead. The Armed Forces and the police share many core values and operate as disciplined organisations, so having Served my country, I felt a strong desire to continue Serving and wanted to give back to the community where I grew up. The values I lived by in the army, such as courage, discipline, integrity and respect for others, have transferred seamlessly into policing and continue to guide me in my role today.
The Big Brew event is all about supporting wellbeing and encouraging conversations. Why is this initiative important to you and to Nottinghamshire Police?
The Big Brew event was launched in 2022 as a way for Nottinghamshire Police to mark and celebrate Armed Forces Week. The event brings together officers and staff who have links to the defence community. It recognises and celebrates the vital work of our Armed Forces and provides an opportunity to show appreciation for the Veterans, Reservists and Cadet volunteers in our organisation. People who have Served in the Military are rightly proud of their Service and initiatives like the Big Brew event demonstrate that the organisation recognises their value and contribution, whilst also creating space for conversation, connection and mutual support.
Armed Forces Day is a key moment to honour and recognise our Armed Forces. Could you tell us how Nottinghamshire Police shows its support for Veterans and Reservists?
Nottinghamshire Police proudly hold the Gold award under the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme, reflecting the organisation’s long-standing commitment to supporting the defence community. Through our Armed Forces Network, we represent Nottinghamshire Police at formal Armed Forces related events across the county and ensure that those with a Military background feel valued and supported in the workplace. The organisation recognises the skills, experience and mindset that Veterans and Reservists bring to policing, and we have a well-established group in our network of around 100 police officers and staff. The network provides a space for like-minded colleagues to connect and support one another, and Reservists are also supported through additional leave allowances to undertake training and deployments.
The Chief Constable is due to re-sign the Armed Forces Covenant at the end of June. What does this commitment look like in practice within the organisation?
Re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant under new leadership clearly demonstrates Nottinghamshire Police’s continued commitment to the Ministry of Defence and the wider defence community. It reinforces our position as a Forces-friendly employer and sends a strong message to anyone considering a career in policing that their Service will be recognised and supported. In practical terms, the covenant underpins our ongoing support for Veterans, Reservists and their families and ensures that the organisation continues to evolve in how it supports colleagues with a Military background.
What advice would you give to ex-Military personnel who are considering a career in policing?
Policing is a rewarding and varied career that ex-Military personnel often transition into very successfully. The skills that you develop in the Armed Forces including resilience, teamwork, leadership and discipline, are highly transferable and there are many departments or specialist areas that you can join. These range from emergency response to complex investigations and there are also lots of opportunities for progression and promotion. For anyone leaving the Military and looking for a purposeful career, policing is well worth considering.
For further information regarding opportunities with Nottinghamshire Police, please visit: www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/careers
