A major campaign has been launched to recruit more police officers in North Wales.<\/p>\n
The drive is being spearheaded by Chief Superintendent Sian Beck who has just started a new role in charge of local policing across the region.<\/p>\n
She is keen to get the message out that being a police officer is a great career with\u00a0 \u201camazing job satisfaction\u201d.<\/p>\n
The window for applications is open from August 18 to August 29 and details can be found on the North Wales Police website www.northwales.police.uk<\/a><\/p>\n Chief Supt Beck, a mother-of-one, said: \u201cIt\u2019s a fantastic job with a whole range of career options\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a 24\/7 service and there are times when you have to put the hours in but we are very much welfare-focused and supportive of a good work-life balance which is helpful in terms of recruitment and retaining officers.<\/p>\n \u201cI know from my own experience that I benefited greatly from a lot of support from the force when I was doing a master\u2019s degree which was incredibly important.<\/p>\n \u201cDiversity and inclusion has come on massively especially with the support of our Chief Constable who\u2019s the national lead for diversity, equality and inclusion.<\/p>\n \u201cPolicing has moved into the 21st<\/sup> century in North Wales in terms of how we recruit and how we understand the challenges that people face from under-represented communities or different genders.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re always striving to do things better but policing is a more inclusive family these days.\u201d<\/p>\n Ironically, becoming a police officer was not part of Sian Beck\u2019s original plan \u2013 even though she was a big fan of TV crime dramas, particularly the long-running hit show, The Bill.<\/p>\n Growing up she was also mad about horses and went to the University of the West of England in Bristol to do a degree in equine science.<\/p>\n But she had a \u201ceureka moment\u201d when a friend showed her a policing recruitment brochure.<\/p>\n She said:\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d never thought of being a police officer until I saw the brochure, did some more research about the role and realised that was what I wanted to do.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a people person so I love working in teams and I am quite practical and outdoorsy so the thought of doing a job helping people and the unpredictability of every day being totally different really appealed to me.<\/p>\n \u201cThe other attraction was that you have the security of one career but a load of different opportunities within the job.<\/p>\n \u201cI joined North Wales Police in March 2000 and I knew immediately that I had made the right decision.<\/p>\n \u201cThe police family is full of like-minded people with honesty and integrity who want to do good in their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n Although it was a hugely rewarding job, Chief Supt Beck stressed that being a police officer was not an easy option.<\/p>\n She added: \u201cYou have got to come into it understanding that it is a 24 hour service and it\u2019s shift work, so we don\u2019t work 9 to 5. You don\u2019t always go home when you want to and you\u2019re not always at home when your family are celebrating bank holidays.<\/p>\n \u201cYou do see people when they are at their most vulnerable and in the worst time of their lives and that can be upsetting.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, on the flip side, being a police officer is the most amazing career with a host of different opportunities.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can have a really long and successful career as a patrol officer, building up a wealth of and knowledge of the communities they serve.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you prefer you can go for a whole range of specialisms. The opportunities are endless and you can have a whole range of careers within the police.<\/p>\n \u201cWhichever route you choose, you\u2019ll be working with some incredible colleagues and making a real difference to people\u2019s lives on a daily basis, whether you\u2019re a chief constable or a PC on patrol in our communities.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a massive responsibility but also a great privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n For more details about how to apply go to <\/strong>www.northwales.police.uk<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n