A Cambridgeshire police officer is backing the ‘Be the Difference’ police recruitment campaign.
Amerjit Singh QPM, 43, is a Detective Chief Inspector for Cambridgeshire Police.
He joined almost 19 years ago, to make an impact on his community and is now one of the highest-ranking Asian officers in the police.
He says: “Deciding to train as a police officer was one of the best decisions I ever made.
“I am proud of what I do, as are my family, friends, and community. I make a difference to people’s lives and that gives me a sense of fulfilment and purpose.
“In my time in the police, I have seen a lot of change.
“When I started it was largely made up of an older generation of officers, but we are now seeing lots of younger recruits come through- from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and walks of life.
“They are not only adaptable to evolving situations and bringing fresh ideas, but also provide fresh perspectives and ways of working which is immensely valuable.
He added: “The highlight of my career to date, by far, was being awarded the Queens Police Medal for distinguished service and helping vulnerable victims in 2018.
“I would recommend anyone who is compassionate, cares about people and is looking for a varied and interesting career to join the force.
“Be the difference and be the change you want to see. Police is like family, and you will have an amazing team.”
Becoming a police officer has topped a national poll of the jobs adults most wanted to do when they were kids.
Nearly one in five (18%) working adults in the East of England say it was their childhood ambition.
Police officer was followed by teacher (16%), pilot (13%) and lawyer (12%).
The poll*, involving over 3,400 working adults across England and Wales, was carried out by Opinion Matters for the Government’s ‘Be The Difference’ police recruitment campaign.
It found that over a third of working adults in the East of England (34%) did not pursue their childhood dream job, with almost half (46%) saying they sometimes or often regret that decision.
When asked their top reasons for wanting to be a police officer while growing up, answers ranged from a desire to be proud of the job they did (38%), wanting to make a difference in the community (37%) and wanting to reduce crime (36%).
With more than a quarter (27%) of adults in the East of England surveyed saying they are considering a job change in the next 12 months, the ‘Be the Difference’ campaign is calling on people to discover the diverse roles within the police force, the importance of teamwork and the meaningful difference an officer can make within the community.
Alice Stapleton, a career coach who specialises in working with people in their 20s and 30s, said: “The last few years have proved to be a time of considerable personal growth for many.
“People’s values and motivations have changed since the pandemic, so it is no surprise that so many people, especially in the early working life of their 20s and 30s, are considering a career change.
“It has been my experience and a recurring theme that an increased number of individuals are seeking to move into more meaningful and purposeful work.
“Sometimes this is also going back to basics, to think about the kinds of jobs they could see themselves doing, but do not know how to make these career dreams a reality.
“As more people seek work that better matches the values that now drive them, it is clear to see why many would consider joining the police.
“It’s a role that ticks the boxes of positive rewards and the opportunity to make a difference, that people are searching for.”
The campaign emphasises that becoming a police officer opens up opportunities to develop personally and professionally and make a positive difference in your community.
“As a police officer you will protect the public, prevent crime, and provide support to victims,” says the campaign team.
“It is a varied, rewarding, and challenging job, where you get to see the direct impact of your work.
‘Be the Difference’ is urging those considering a career to find out more about how they could fulfil their potential at joiningthepolice.co.uk.
https://www.joiningthepolice.co.uk/
FACT FILE
*Research conducted by Opinion Matters for the Government’s ‘Be the Difference’ campaign.
Opinion Matters surveyed 3,450 working adults, of which 268 were in the East of England, aged 18+ in England and Wales only. The sample included boost samples for Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Carlisle, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, and Oxford.
The data is weighted to be representative of working adults in England and Wales by age, gender, and region. The survey was carried out between 11th and 21st November 2022.
The full findings can be accessed here: https://charts.opinionmatters.com/10699/10699_DDD.html
About ‘Be the Difference’ campaign
The national Police Recruitment campaign supports the Government’s commitment to recruit 20,000 additional police officers by March 2023 and to make forces more representative of the communities they serve.
The campaign showcases officers from across England and Wales who discuss the enjoyment they get from being part of a close team and helping their communities.
