'When somebody is having the worst day of their life, it’s Uniform who turn up on their door and do something about it' - PSNI Beyond the Badge discusses policing

‘PSNI Beyond the Badge’ launched two weeks ago and the latest episode is available from today, Wednesday 21st October – https://psni-beyondthebadge.podbean.com/.

The 10-part podcast series gives listeners the opportunity to hear directly from officers and staff on the issues that matter, exploring stories beyond the uniform and opening up conversations about the challenges of modern policing.

This week’s episode sees host, Lata Sharma speak to Superintendent Brendan Green, Neighbourhood Inspector Róisín Brown and Detective Inspector Rebecca Hedley on how the Service strives to be more representative of the communities it serves.

And as Lata outlines, this is inclusive of not only various religious affiliations which officers and staff may have, but also gender and sexuality.

Brendan - Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon District Commander and chair of the Catholic Police Guild - shares a candid account of his own journey into policing.

He grew up in west Belfast and he wanted to represent his community with his parents “encouraging me to be part of that change.”

Brendan feels there remains in some parts of society a lack of support for police, and “it is on the rest of civic society to change” such a perception, and “to say to our young people – we need you to bring your communities' views into this big organisation, which is there to represent everybody.”

Róisín also shares her personal story behind deciding to join the Police Service two decades ago.

She tells Lata that she, her sisters, and her mother were “victims and survivors of domestic abuse”, and this spurred her on to realise a dream of being able to help other women who were experiencing similar experiences in their own homes.

“When somebody is having the worst day of their life, it’s Uniform who turn up on their door and do something about it,” she says, adding that having “empathy and sympathy” from her own experiences has proved “really important” in her career.

And, with the current representation of women working for the PSNI sitting currently at around 29 per cent, Róisín is passionate about impressing just how vital females are in policing.

Finally, we hear from Rebecca, from the PSNI’s Operational Support, who speaks from the point of view of her role as one of the co-chairs of the Service’s LGBT+ Network.

She feels that many members of the LGBT+ community are now attracted to the variety of a police officer role and, as a result, public confidence is enhanced when those they serve see people from all backgrounds being represented.

“We want everybody to see that they can pick up the phone and come to us, because that’s what we’re here for,” she says.

“You want people to look at the Service and think, ‘I can go to them’, and by extension, ‘I can be one of them’.”

Commenting on the work to create a police service reflective of its communities, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: “I want the Police Service of Northern Ireland to be representative of the community we serve and to be seen as an employer of choice.

"Just last week we launched our student officer and staff recruitment campaigns.

"Today’s podcast has contributors from a range of backgrounds highlighting the representativeness and diversity within our organisation – Three of our officers talk about their experiences and how their backgrounds have played a key role in their careers.

“I am determined to do whatever I can to achieve the diversity that would mirror the richness of the communities that make up Northern Ireland.

“If you have integrity, compassion, and a willingness to learn, and if you want to make positive change for your community, apply to join the Police Service. There is no other job like policing, no two days will ever be the same and we want people from all walks of life and background to join us.”

More details can be found on www.joinpsni.co.uk