Making a difference to where I live

After a career in policing spanning almost 27 years, Sharn Basra has been appointed as temporary Assistant Chief Constable for Bedfordshire Police. Here he talks about the endless opportunities he’s had within the force which have led to where he is today, and why he would encourage others to take one of the many routes into a career in policing…

“Like so many others, I joined policing to keep people safe, make a difference, and lock up baddies. For me it was important to do this in my home county, Bedfordshire, so that I knew I was making a real difference to where I, my family, and my friends live.

“It may be a cliché to say that policing is a varied job but it is true. Once you are in the force there are so many different pathways your career can take. I spent six years as a bobby on the beat and then another six years as a detective constable, working to solve all manner of crimes.

“I’ve also spent time as the head of our public protection unit, helping to oversee the protection of some of the most vulnerable people in our society, as well being an area commander for the south of the county, and head of crime for the whole force.

“That’s not to mention the additional duties such as policing football matches for Luton Town, and being part of the policing of major events such as Luton Carnival and Bedford River Festival.

“But for me the most rewarding role of my career to date was working as a senior investigating officer for the major crime unit. You cannot explain the feeling when a family member of someone who has been needlessly taken away from them gives you a hug to say thank you for convicting their killer.

“Throughout my career I have been lucky to work with so many people in so many different roles, I’ve made some fabulous friends and learnt a lot along the way, and most importantly of all I’m making a positive contribution to where I live.

“It is without a doubt the best job ever and I would not change anything. If I had my time again I would still be a cop – policing may have changed a lot and the pressures today are very much different to the ones I faced when I first signed up, but it really is such a rewarding career. Of course there are tough days – but you get the training and the support network you need to manage those.

“After almost 27 years in policing, I’m still lucky enough to love every day of what I do, and now I am responsible for the day to day delivery of policing for my home county – how cool.”

Find out more about all the latest recruitment opportunities currently available with Bedfordshire Police.

 

 

Retiring in a global pandemic

Det Chief Supt Mead looks back at a thirty year career at Bedfordshire Police, which started patrolling her home town of Luton before embarking on a Detective career.

Liz is retiring from Head of Crime and Public Protection having worked on several murder, rape, kidnap and serious crime investigations including as a Senior Investigating Officer on the Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit (BCH MCU).

Liz launched Bedfordshire Police’s ‘One Punch Kills’ campaign to raise awareness across Bedfordshire’s schools and communities of the devastating impact one punch can have. Liz has received Judge’s Commendations for her investigative ability and has led the force in cultural change, leadership and ethics.

How do you retire in a pandemic? Where the over whelming feeling is that you should not be leaving, but staying in support of your colleagues?

Not one I can answer, I have offered to stay but it is time for the next chapter. Coronavirus came along and made everything different but the foundations have been set and the contingency plans developed and instigated.

I have worked with the most incredibly dedicated teams to keep the high service of investigating crime and being there for victims, whilst adapting practices, interpreting ever-changing guidelines and making sure all our teams are protected and working as safely as possible. They accept this and go out every day, knowing they are an emergency service, there always has been and always will be an inherent risk in that, especially now.

“Hopeless, worthless, used.” A victim of child sexual abuse speaks out after her abusers were jailed

A woman has spoken of the horrific impact being sexually abused as a child has had on her, after her perpetrators were jailed last month

Emdadul Lukman, 47 of Waldegrave Street, Hastings, East Sussex and Jakhir Hussain, 37, of Keymer Court, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, were sentenced on 20 February to a total of 36 years after being found guilty by a unanimous jury of multiple counts of rape and causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Although the abuse took place almost two decades ago, she found the courage to report it in February 2018 after telling her mother and husband what had happened to her.

An investigation was subsequently launched by Bedfordshire Police’s Child and Vulnerable Adult Abuse (CAVAA) team, which resulted in Lukman being jailed for 16 years and Hussain for 20 years.