Hannah has worked for the Metropolitan Police for nearly two years and is based in a station in South London. “I never imagined this is what I’d be doing when I was at LEH,” said Hannah. During her placement year at university, with a management consultancy, she got an opportunity to join a “ride along”, sitting in the back seat of a police car as an observer during a busy Friday-night shift. “From that moment on I was pretty sure that I wanted to be a police officer,” she said. 

She signed up with the Police Now National Graduate Leadership Programme for an intensive six-weeks training which aims to produce innovative, forward-thinking officers. You hit the ground running and Hannah was on duty as an emergency response officer in Peckham with blue lights and siren blaring on her very first shift.

“My experience so far has been meaningful and very varied,” says Hannah.  “I’ve experienced things I never dreamt of when I was sitting where you are now. I made my first arrest at London Bridge Station.  As I  raced up the escalators, I had a terrifying realisation that I was going to be the first to arrive and deal with the suspect. But the training kicks in and you just get on with it.”

From reuniting owners and lost pets, to being first on scene at a cardiac arrest and from upsetting child abuse cases to undertaking an attachment with a homicide team, the workload is demanding and varied. “But you have the opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives,” says Hannah.

“I have witnessed undeniably horrific things, but I also get to work alongside people who exemplify the best of humanity, who show genuine kindness and compassion and are prepared to run towards danger rather than cower away. I genuinely look forward to work every day and get a real sense of purpose and belonging.”

Hannah discussed how a number of recent high-profile cases have dramatically increased awareness of violence against women.  “And I thought what have I done joining this organisation? I could have walked away, but I decided to stay and do something about it from the inside. Hopefully what I choose to do makes a tiny positive impact.”

Domestic abuse accounts for 10% of all calls to the Met Police, so it’s an important part of police work. Hannah detailed some of the measures in place to help tackle violence against women and girls, including Clare’s Law, the domestic violence disclosure scheme, Ask for Angela, the campaign to help people discreetly approach venue staff, Project Vigilant, to increase night-time patrols, Street Safe, to anonymously report unsafe public places, and Walk & Talk, which creates an informal forum to raise concerns.

Hannah ended by asking pupils: “If not you, then who? If not now, then when? Policing is amazing, meaningful and fulfilling. You might not like some of the stories you see about the Met Police on the news, but there is a lot of change happening and we need brilliant LEH students to help make those changes.”

A crowd of inspired students gathered round Hannah afterwards, all keen to ask questions and attend a Ride Along too.  Thank you so much Hannah for the work you do, and for coming to tell us all about it.