People join us from all walks of life and backgrounds, bringing with them different skills, abilities and experiences. Meet members of our police family, here to share with you their MDP journeys.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I served with a Home Office Force from 2007 to 2016.
Why did you decide to join?
I was a Marine Unit officer in my previous Force and, I am passionate about marine policing. The MDP has by far the largest marine policing capability of any UK Police Force and provides a great range of challenges and opportunities within the discipline.
What is the best thing about your job?
The variety – I have had the opportunity to deploy on marine policing operations across the UK. My most memorable and proudest moments have been being involved with the maritime security operations to safely escort HMS Queen Elizabeth into Portsmouth and the maritime element of the D-Day 75 celebrations.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I think I have the best job in the Force! As a training manager I get to lead a fantastic team of marine instructors, delivering the training our operational teams need to get the job done. I am well supported with development opportunities within my current specialism and I also get the opportunity to keep a hand in with operational marine unit activity.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I worked in sales and marketing.
Why did you decide to join?
Having had a family, I reflected on what I had achieved in my career. I hadn’t done any of the things I set out to do. Life’s too short and it’s never too late to change direction and do something that you’ve always wanted to do.
What is the best thing about your job?
The comradery with the officers on section and the opportunities that are available within the Force. As a parent, the shift pattern also allows for a good work life balance.
I am a member of the MDP REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) Network with whom I am proud to be an advocate of Diversity and Inclusion in the Force, helping to organise events and supporting fellow officers. I am also a tutor constable, mentoring new officers throughout their probationary period.
What are your career highlights?
My most memorable experiences so far include being deployed as part of Operation Temperer to the O2 in London in 2017 and taking part in a procession for International Women’s Day in 2019 to mark the centenary of Metropolitan Police women, as part of their #100YearsStrong campaign.
What is your proudest MDP moment?
When I represented the MDP at the 100th National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London, attended by senior members of the Royal Family, including Her Majesty the Queen, and HM Government. It was very humbling and a real privilege to take part in the March Past with the thousands of veterans who we were there to remember and commemorate with.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I have carried out acting Sergeant duties and begun the promotion process. I’m currently working in an operational planning role and am enjoying getting some insight into this aspect of policing, broadening my experience and knowledge, which will only benefit me going forward. In the future, I would like to continue on the promotion ladder and make a difference within the Force.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I was studying for a degree in Sports Science, but my heart wasn’t in it and ahead of starting my new recruit training I worked full-time in a local supermarket.
Why did you decide to join?
I felt that it was the best choice for me, and I was right. I have already had so many opportunities to develop my career, the shift pattern allows me to continue with my personal interests in playing tennis and football. In a national force with a range of specialist units, I know that there will be plenty of scope for variety and progression.
What is the best thing about your job?
The amazing people that I work with. We all look out for each other and I’ve made friends for life. My managers are so supportive, and after joining the force they had no hesitation in allowing me time to go back to Uganda to continue my volunteer work.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
In the next ten years I would like to be a Chief Inspector… an ambitious goal I know, but I intend to work hard and aim to keep on progressing to see where my MDP career will take me.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I was a prison officer.
Why did you decide to join?
So that I could play my part in serving, protecting and connecting with the Defence HQ community and general public, whilst making good use of my skills from working in the prison service and my cultural understanding and language abilities.
What is your proudest MDP moment?
My proudest MDP moment so far, was receiving an award, from the Chief Constable, for my academic achievements during initial training.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
In ten years, I’d like to be a station Senior Police Officer.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
Upon completion of my law degree I spent a few months travelling around Australia before joining the MDP.
Why did you decide to join?
I researched various forces, however knowing I wanted to be a dog handler the MDP appealed as it has one of the largest police dog units in the UK.
What is the best thing about your job?
Working with my dogs. I have been a General Purpose Handler, as well as a specialist search handler so there are too many good moments to mention. Every day is a learning day working with dogs and I love to watch them develop.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I have been successful in joining the MDP Operational Capability Centre Dog Training Branch and will shortly be doing my Police Dog Instructor qualification. I see myself in this role for a long time, as it will give me such a fantastic opportunity to gain further qualifications and learn more about dog behaviour and training.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I started my career in the British Army as a Combat Medical Technician, I then joined a Home Office force before applying to join MDP.
Why did you decide to join?
I wanted to serve in a specialist policing environment with plenty of opportunities to sharpen my skills in various aspects of armed policing.
What is the best thing about your job?
It is both challenging and rewarding because it is unpredictable. One minute I could be dealing with a trespasser and the next minute be deployed on a more complex job, sometimes involving work to assist Home Office Police colleagues.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
My career aspiration is to achieve promotion to the next rank.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I studied psychology and then worked in a Student Union advice and support centre.
Why did you decide to join?
It offered lots of variety and opportunities to progress.
What is your proudest MDP moment?
Receiving a Chief Constable’s commendation and Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Award, for helping to save a colleague’s life.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I can’t be sure where my MDP career will take me, as there are so many paths available, but I know that whatever I do it will be a new challenge and something that is right for me, my family (three children and my partner, also in the job!) and the Force.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I worked in events and hospitality management.
Why did you decide to join?
I heard about the MDP when I was at university studying criminal law and the opportunity to specialise immediately in a police firearms role, with lots of options to develop my career, really appealed to me.
What is your proudest MDP moment?
Completing my first live operation with the SEG.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
Within the next ten years I would like to have further specialised in a counter terrorism firearms position.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I left college and in 1985, at the age of 19, I began my recruits’ course at MDP Medmenham. After successful completion of training, I was appointed to serve at RAF West Drayton in London.
Why did you decide to join?
Whilst at college, it was always my ambition to progress into the police service and I became aware of the MDP and started to make tentative enquiries.
What is your proudest MDP moment?
When I supervised a team of Community Police Officers across Scotland and Northern Ireland, as they supported the Defence community whilst battalions and units deployed on Operation Herrick.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I am now within what I intend to be my last decade of service as a police officer and am looking forward to continuing to support the Force and wider departmental needs, whilst I also mentor new entrants as they begin their careers in a force which continues to evolve in response to an ever changing operational environment.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I was a Cancer Pathway Co-ordinator.
Why did you decide to join?
I wanted a new challenge, had always been interested in policing. Having looked at the website and all the different specialisms available, the Force offered something different and unique that really inspired me to send in my application.
What is your proudest MDP moment?
Passing my Sergeant exam and working on station as a T/Police Sergeant.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
In the next ten years, I aim to be well established at Sergeant rank (or beyond) and I would like to work on an international deployment, should the opportunity to do so arise.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I worked in my family’s restaurant business.
Why did you decide to join?
I was studying criminology at university and decided that I wanted to put into practice, as a police officer, what I had been learning about. I chose the MDP because I was particularly interested in the different dynamics of policing offered by the firearms officer role.
What is the best thing about your job?
I enjoy interacting with a wide range of people from different backgrounds. My colleagues are great. There is a good sense of camaraderie and trust – with some good banter as well! You know they’ve always got your back.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
At this moment in time I am happy in my current role, but I’m open to the idea of promotion to Sergeant rank in the future.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
After graduating with a degree in Archaeology, I ran the Students’ Union and then went on to hold management roles in sales and catering before starting my policing career.
Why did you decide to join?
I wanted to work in a role where I could specialise as an Authorised Firearms Officer, right from the beginning of my career. The MDP also had, and still has, the largest Marine policing capability in the UK and that was also a specialist area of policing that I was keen to get into.
What is the best thing about your job?
The variety of roles that I have been able to serve in. One of my proudest moments was representing the MDP as part of Operation Herrick where I had the great privilege of mentoring policewomen in the Afghan National Police. I was also very proud to qualify as a Team Leader within 6 months of joining the SEG.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I am now working towards my goal to achieve substantive Chief Inspector rank and I look forward to continuing to develop in my career, whilst encouraging and mentoring my colleagues to help them achieve their full potential too.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I worked in a nursery, caring for children aged zero to five. I enjoyed that job, but I wanted to do something completely different that would really challenge me.
Why did you decide to join?
It offered opportunities which I felt may have been limited elsewhere. The range of options available to specialise and move or be deployed to different locations across the UK, really appealed to me.
What is the best thing about your job?
My most memorable MDP moment was when I boarded HMS Prince of Wales and received a tour, whilst I was on a deployment to support the move of the carrier.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
In ten years, I would like to have gained more experience of working on operations in the UK and, where possible, overseas. I’m also aiming to achieve promotion and to specialise as a National Firearms Instructor.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I graduated from university and worked in retail. I also did some temping jobs which included working for an insurance company and working in the Head office for a jewellery company.
Why did you decide to join?
I had wanted to join the Police for a while, in part because I grew up watching The Bill on TV! I’m a Londoner, but the MPS weren’t recruiting so I started researching other forces and found the MDP. They sounded completely different, so I decided to give it a go.
What is the best thing about your job?
I’ve had so many different experiences and I love the fact that the job has given me the opportunities to do them. Some of my proudest moments have been working with policewomen in the Afghan National Police and completing my MSc in Defence Leadership through the Defence Academy of the UK (which I completed part time whilst at work and was awarded in 2019).
Where do you see yourself in the future?
At the moment, I’m really enjoying my current role and it’s providing me with lots of challenges. However, in the future I hope to continue with promotion and would love to be a Chief Officer.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I had various jobs that fitted around raising my two children. I worked in a pyrotechnic factory where I produced marine distress and rescue products and military signal flares: I later became a proof tester for the products. Directly before joining the MDP I worked for a company producing contact lenses.
Why did you decide to join?
Coming from and marrying into the military I was aware of the role of the MDP and so, after being made redundant, I decided to apply to join. I wasn’t sure if I was too old to start a new career, especially a firearms role, but I soon realised that as long as I could pass all the elements required it was fine.
What is the best thing about your job?
As an Authorised Firearms Officer at Hereford I have had the opportunity to carry out a variety of roles in support of the customer and their families, the most memorable ones involve working alongside and in support of UK military units as an Operational Firearms Commander, in Counter Terrorism exercises and live operations.
One of my proudest moments was receiving a Force Commendation for my part in a joint investigation with the Serious Fraud Office which resulted in the successful prosecution of four offenders and confiscation in excess of 1 million pounds.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I’ve had 18 years of varied roles in the MDP and have enjoyed all the different opportunities and experiences that each one has given me. I am nearing the end of my career and will hopefully stay here at Hereford until my retirement. Looking back, I really wish I had made the decision to join the job sooner than I did.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I was an Authorised Firearms Officer (AFO) with another UK police force.
Why did you decide to join?
As I was already an AFO in my previous force that aspect of working for the MDP was not new to me. More opportunities to progress and further specialise in my armed policing career is what really encouraged me to join.
What is your proudest MDP moment?
Being elected as the Vice Chair of the MDP REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) Network. I’m proud to be actively involved in advocating Diversity and Inclusion in the MDP, through the work of the REACH Network, supporting colleagues and helping our organisation to grow and develop, through openness, awareness, and shared experiences.
What are your career highlights?
Since joining the MDP I have achieved a lot. Highlights for me include completing my Project Servator training; being a Defence Police Federation representative; supporting new entrants as a Tutor Constable; Acting Police Sergeant work and my role with the MDP REACH Network.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I am trying different things and working with different departments to see which direction I would like to take next. I would also like to go for promotion.
What did you do before joining the MDP?
I was a BT Network Engineer.
Why did you decide to join?
I wanted a job where I could make a difference.
What are your career highlights?
I started my MDP career as an Authorised Firearms Officer at AWE Aldermaston and, after six months, I undertook specialist Project Servator training. That was such a great experience and I deployed in and around AWE and at public events, including the Royal International Air Tattoo. I was recently successful in completing my General Purpose Police Dog course and I am now a qualified dog handler. That is a major career highlight for me, as it has been my ambition since joining the MDP.
What is your proudest MDP moment?
When I graduated as a new recruit, following initial training.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
In the next ten years I would like to see myself as an experienced dog handler, having built on the skills I have learnt during my initial training.