Can I become police officer while being a Mum?

[Amyjoyjoy]

I've always wanted to become a police officer. I am always interested in crime, am fit and compassionate and feel I would make a good officer. I also studied law at college. My local force are now recruiting.

I have two children, 9 months and 5. I currently work three days a week in management but I leave work at the door and it's relatively undemanding.

I would like to hear from those who are in the force and how you make it work with childcare etc. Does it take you away from the family too much?

My husband does shift work and most childcare is currently done by me.

I'm not a police officer so I can't give specific guidance - but I guess you have to think about shift patterns in terms of childcare especially if your husband also works shifts. I guess the same kind of role would be nursing or fire brigade. People have kids and do them all.

Why don't you have a chat with the recruiting force? The police is made up of more than officers - they may have vacancies for staff roles which might give you a regular working pattern.

I thought about this before but then realised you’d have to work all sort of shifts, mornings, nights, weekends, bank holidays. I’d just find it difficult with two young children

It's frustrating isn't it? I'm guessing people that do it must have a lot of help from parents etc or a husband who doesn't work shifts picking up the slack.

My husband is a police officer and I work part time office hours. Theres lots of jobs in my line of work that require shift patterns /late or weekend working but for us it would be impossible. Unless you have family close by willing to help out heavily with childcare I'm afraid it would be extremely difficult. Unless your husband could alter his work to "normal" hours a d the you do the shift work hours? Shifts start at 7am meaning leaving home at 6am (for us anyway to travel, get into uniform at work etc). Theres no childcare near us that open before 7.30 or after 6pm. He is often late home from work too so could not be relied upon to pick kids up at a set time.

Me and DH are both police officers, we are expecting our first so can't directly advise on childcare. Certainly with the Met after initial training
You will be expected to work on emergency response for a period of time which covers earlies lates and nights.

There's no automatic guarantee of Christmas, school holidays off.

By no means is at an easy job but one we both love and we will make the childcare work somehow - we don't have parents to help as both sets still work full time. Any questions just ask

My friend is a nurse and her husband is in the police. They have young children and it seems they have a lot of help from both sets of grand parents. I think it's easier in their cases because they were well established in their roles prior to having kids and have worked their way up in ranks so they have a bit more control over shifts etc. As a new recruit I would've thought you just have to do whatever they need you to do with very little flexibility. I'd ask the recruitment team about it before applying.

Thanks for your messages, really helpful. Maybe I could look into becoming a special and then train in a few years when the kids are both at school. I'm at a bit of a cross roads I think.

I'm a police officer and a single mum. I don't have anyone to help me out, she goes to her dad every other weekend and I have an aupair. It helps that she's at school now too

Do look at being a special for a bit first to check it's right for you

I imagine childcare will be harder oncs they are at school. Easier to train when theyre young.

However what childcare would you have if vith working v late or v early?