Jo Reynolds
Trainee Investigator for the Case Investigation Team at Hatfield.
Time with Hertfordshire Constabulary
Two months.
What were you doing before you joined Hertfordshire Constabulary?
I was an acting sergeant with Cambridgeshire Constabulary. I'd been with them for four years.
What first motivated you to join the police?
Originally I completed a Law degree, but decided that I didn't want
to go into practicing law. I knew that I didn't want to take on a
normal office job or be chained to a computer all day, and that the
justice system was still something that interested me, so policing
seemed like the ideal option.
What attracted you to Hertfordshire Constabulary?
I'd heard that Herts had a good reputation. And the people I met
during my training never had a bad word to say about their
constabulary. I also liked the fact that rather than taking the OSPRE
II exam, you can do a year of work-placement assessment which I prefer
because I can gain useful skills that I can use in my day-to-day work.
How have you found working with Hertfordshire Constabulary?
I'm still quite new to Herts, but I already feel part of the team. I
had a two week induction, which was good because it introduced me to
the different departments and areas. And I've liked the fact that there
are a lot more staff and resources available here, because it means
there's a strong support network and you get the supervision you need.
What is different about policing in Hertfordshire compared to your previous force?
I've found most things to be quite similar in terms of the way that
things work. It's just that here things seem to work a bit more
cohesively. And I think that's due to there being more staff, and as I
said, the support being there when you need it.
Do you see a future for yourself in Hertfordshire?
Well, in my old job I was an acting sergeant. I had made a lot of
strong contacts and really knew what I was doing. In my new role, I can
see that I have a lot of work to do to build up that same network of
contacts and knowledge. But that's something I'm more than happy to do,
because I always saw my move here as a long-term thing and I'm looking
forward to settling down in the area.
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