AFTER a national poll of adults revealed a police officer is the job most adults want to do, a Coventry Sargent Sundeep Kaur Cheema has advised on how to pursue a career in the force.
A poll was carried out by Opinion Matters and asked 3,400 adults across England and Wales for the government’s ‘Be the Difference’ police recruitment campaign.
It revealed over a third of working adults in the West Midlands didn’t pursue their dream job, with 41 per cent adding they regret their decision.
In addition, 23 per cent of working adults in the region said becoming a police officer was their childhood ambition.
People’s top reasons for wanting to be a police officer ranged from a desire to make a difference in their community to wanting to reduce crime and to do a job they could be proud of.
Sundeep has been in the police for 19 years after signing up to be a special constable at university, but when she first joined there weren’t many other Sikh women around her.
She said she wanted her community to see themselves reflected in the officers serving and wanted to be part of a positive change.
Sundeep said: “I love I have people at the heart of the work I do, whether I’m supporting a victim in their time of need, understanding why an offender committed a crime or engaging with my local community.
“Having an interest and passion for the people you are serving is important – as officers, we need to understand the needs of the community and they should also be able to see themselves reflected in the force, so I feel a diverse police force is a big asset.
“One of the most memorable moments of my career was forming the National Sikh Police Association in 2019 – which felt like a network which represented me.
“It felt empowering and like strong support was put in place for the future Sikh members of the police force.
“To those considering joining the police, just do it as it’s really positive to see the uplift in young people joining the force – the fresh perspectives they bring are invaluable as they understand what is important to other young people today.”
The poll also revealed 18 per cent of people wanted to grow up to be a teacher while 14 per cent dreamed of becoming a pilot.
Visit joiningthepolice.co.uk to find out more on joining the force.
