Emma, Frontline Leadership Programme participant and serving detective sergeant within SEROCU: 

“I applied for a place on Police Now’s Frontline Leadership Programme (FLP) because promotion wasn’t just about passing a board and exam to me. My own conscience and values saw the importance of investing time in myself and learning how to become a good and ethical leader. Joining the FLP has enabled me to lift the barriers I previously placed upon myself. 

“Policing has attracted a lot of negative media in recent years and the effect this has on officer morale, public perception and support from politicians can’t be underestimated. To turn this around, I could see that the culture within policing, in particular police leadership, needed to evolve. It was clear from the offset that the FLP would give me many tools and resources to make positive changes within policing and support my continued growth as a leader.    

“The FLP course made itself very accessible to all. There are only a handful of taught days where you need to be present in person at a fixed time/location. All other course content is presented remotely and can be accessed at a time that is convenient to your own unique circumstances. There are many workshops, presentations and networks within Police Now that are completely optional, and you can get as involved as you want to be. There should be a health warning though; the content is inspiring, and you’ll want to be involved in everything! A trait of my own that I perhaps need to reflect on…. 

“Joining the FLP has enabled me to lift the barriers I previously placed upon myself. Reflective practices taught within the FLP have helped me reframe any negative thought or situation as an opportunity to make a change. I have learnt to accept myself as I am; an unfinished product that I will constantly seek to educate and improve.  

“Since becoming promoted to detective sergeant rank, I have been able to apply the same principles to my team. Each of my team is on their own unique journey in both life and policing and it is important that they have the opportunity and support to become the best version of themselves, both inside policing and out. Without doubt, policing is a challenging career but the FLP has networks for delegates to discuss experiences and revolutionary ideas around creating more inclusive teams, cultures, and environments.  

“The FLP do lots of mock promotion boards which undoubtedly help with the promotion process. However, I do think it is employing the ‘leader mindset’ to your everyday practices that helps you go out and get your best evidence to use in that board. The exam will help you become a sergeant, the FLP will help you become a leader! 

“Not wishing to steal anybody else’s strapline but I think anybody wishing to join the FLP has to want to ‘be the best’. Be prepared to reflect on your own actions, behaviours, and that of policing around you. If you are somebody that feels very strongly, like I did, about the reported failings within policing, then use that energy to stand up and ensure that positive changes take place. The FLP will give you the tools, resources and connections to do it, but the commitment and drive has to come from within yourself.”