Working in Suffolk

1. About You and Your Policing Background

• What is your current rank and role? Police Sergeant, Haverhill, Response Investigation Team
  
  
• How long have you served in policing, and what roles or specialisms have you previously worked in? I have been a serving police officer for 20+ years, I have worked in proactive units, response, neighbourhood and seconded for a period of time supporting the NATO conference in 2019. I am also a Police Search Advisor, CBRN officers and Disaster Victim Identification officer
  
  
• Which force did you transfer from? Hertfordshire Constabulary

 

2. Motivations for Transferring

• What motivated you to consider transferring to another force? Better work life balance
  
  
• Why did you choose Suffolk Constabulary specifically? Suffolk is a smaller force, as such more personable.
  
  
• Were there any particular aspects about Suffolk, such as culture, leadership, opportunities, community feel, or work–life balance, that stood out to you? The main factors influencing my decision related to a better work life distance regards commute but also the shift pattern which having done it now for several months is much more family friendly.

 

3. Your Transfer Experience

• How did you find the transfer process from start to finish? The transfer was a lengthy process, any issues that arose I was able to email or call and the matters were resolved.
  
  
• What surprised you most when joining Suffolk? Members of the senior leadership team, welcoming me into the force and making time to have one to ones.

 

4. Your Role and Career Development

• How has transferring impacted your career progression or aspirations? Since transferring and within 9 months of transferring I have been able to shadow different roles and am now being actively supported with my promotional aspiration to the next rank.
  
  
• Are there new opportunities, training, or specialist roles you have been able to explore here? I have been able to support my Norfolk counterpart regards DVI coordination which I have welcomed, I have also been given the opportunity for a CID attachment.
  
  
• Have you felt supported by your supervisors and colleagues since joining? I have been supported by line managers within the CPC.

 

5. Culture, Team Environment and Wellbeing

• How would you describe Suffolk’s policing culture and team environment? Suffolk has a family friendly policing culture, but also supportive, SLT are approachable and visible.
  
  
• In what ways has transferring influenced your morale, motivation, or passion for policing? Transferring has renewed by motivation and want to explore different roles in policing, new area, new ways of doing things, new challenges.
  
  
• Has joining Suffolk impacted your wellbeing or work–life balance? If so, how? Transferring has had a positive impact on WLB, the commute is shorter and that combined with the shift pattern gives me more time with my family.

 

6. Biggest Differences and Adjustments

• What differences have you noticed between Suffolk Constabulary and your previous force? Herts compared to Suffolk, is a much larger force, with a greater spread of specialisms in their own teams, Suffolk being smaller has those specialisms but they are condensed into smaller teams, therefore without realising my continued professional development has been constant as I have had to learn new skills which in Herts would have been the responsibility of another department.

 

7. Personal Reflections

• Looking back, what has been the most rewarding part of transferring to Suffolk? Improvement on WLB, being welcomed into the Force and being able to start carving my own promotional pathway.
• What has made you feel “at home” here? My team.
  
  
• What would you tell an officer who is thinking about transferring but unsure about taking the leap? The idea of transferring then becoming reality was unnerving as Herts is all I had known for 20 odd years and the though of starting again was unsettling. I would simply advise take a big breath and jump in, you will soon find your feet and there are plenty of transferees from many other forces.

1. About You and Your Policing Background

I am currently an Acting Inspector on a Response Investigation Team. I have been in Policing since 2008 and transferred to Suffolk in August 2025 as a Sergeant.

I joined Hertfordshire Constabulary in 2008 as a PCSO, becoming an officer in 2012. I have worked primarily on response and neighbourhood teams as a PC and Sergeant but worked for a couple of years within the Change Delivery world before becoming an Acting Inspector on a response team in Hertfordshire.

 

2. Motivations for Transferring

I was motivated in transferring largely due to promotion opportunities and seeking a better work life balance.

I looked at various forces as I was keen to explore a change in force and the development opportunities that this brings in terms of learning a new approach, culture and force. I decided upon Suffolk due to the opportunities that were present and the openness and support that I was shown and given throughout my exploration and application process. The force very much had a friendly feel and approach due to its size and structure which appealed to me.

 

3. Your Transfer Experience

The transfer process was very easy with clear communication with the recruitment team and a local representative from the area I would be joining if successful.

The thing that surprised me most was the team sizes and lack of specialist departments. Having come from a force that operates much larger teams and has a large number of specialist departments this took some adjustment. This does however bring opportunities to develop skill sets and work in areas that may be undertaken by specialist units in other forces, making officers very rounded in skills and experience.

 

4. Your Role and Career Development

I joined as a Sergeant in August and was Part 1 qualified for Inspector. Since joining I have been fully supported in my promotion aspirations and am currently in an acting Inspector role. I have had fantastic support from my line manager and command team in supporting me in my journey and offering me opportunities to further my development.

 

5. Culture, Team Environment and Wellbeing

Transferring has re-invigorated my passion for Policing. The force has a family feel, and this is re-informed by the team sizes which allow for a more personable and supportive leadership approach. The shift pattern in Suffolk is a change from my old force, and it is arguably much better for my work-life balance, allows for greater time off between shifts and a longer period between turnarounds.

 

7. Personal Reflections

The most rewarding thing has been giving me a new perspective to Policing which has re-invigorated my passion. Having sat in one force for 17 years it is easy to become complacent, and transferring has afforded me the opportunity to re-focus my career, develop a new team and learn a new force which has been both challenging and rewarding.

The approach of senior management has been key in this, and they are both friendly and approachable which has made the process easy.

It is very easy to have misgivings and concerns, and I certainly did as I went through the process. My advice to anyone thinking about it is, don’t be afraid to ask questions and put yourself out there. The process was easier than I thought it would be and it doesn’t hold you back. There are plenty of transferees who would be happy to discuss the process and please reach out to talk to us!

1. About You and Your Policing Background

• What is your current rank and role?

Detective Inspector – Safeguarding Investigation Unit – Conifer House (South)

• How long have you served in policing, and what roles or specialisms have you previously worked in?

23 years as a Police Officer, Did 11 years in uniform under various guises but then became a detective and a background specialism in RASSO / Safeguarding and Child Exploitation.

• Which force did you transfer from?

Essex Police.

 

2. Motivations for Transferring

• What motivated you to consider transferring to another force?

We wanted to move house and whilst I had the opportunity to remain in Essex – Initial discussions with Suffolk made me feel wanted and gave me the opportunity to be promoted. Due to organisational issues this was not happening in my last force and hadn’t happened for over 2 years doe to no processes being opened.

• Why did you choose Suffolk Constabulary specifically?

As a family we had decided to move to Suffolk – BSE for a better quality of life, schools, safety and nicer environment for our children.

I had the option to stay in Essex, but I met officers of various ranks who had done similar in their careers and decided it was the right move.

I realised in my interview that Suffolk were willing to support my career after false promises.

• Were there any particular aspects about Suffolk—such as culture, leadership, opportunities, community feel, or work–life balance—that stood out to you?

I always thought I would retire an Essex officer – however as I began the process and started to meet people it reinforced my decision. This is a happy place to work where staff are made to feel valued and supported. A good work life balance is supported by the better shift patterns.

 

3. Your Transfer Experience

• How did you find the transfer process from start to finish?

I found the transfer process incredibly easy and quick.

Any possible hurdles were easily rectified or easily resolved.

I expected my vetting to take an age however this was done in a matter of days.

• What surprised you most when joining Suffolk?

How happy and accommodating people are to help and support each other including senior officers. There is a great culture and the people have made it such easy transition.

 

4. Your Role and Career Development

• How has transferring impacted your career progression or aspirations?

Joining Suffolk has accelerated my promotional aspirations.

My previous force had not sat a process for over 2 years and felt that I could not achieve what I wanted to do anymore staying.

• Are there new opportunities, training, or specialist roles you have been able to explore here?

No – not yet but future opportunities have been discussed, and I feel supported to pursue new opportunities.

 

5. Culture, Team Environment and Wellbeing

• In what ways has transferring influenced your morale, motivation, or passion for policing?

I found the thought of leaving one force after so long quite difficult – there was definitely a sense of trepidation. I wasn’t leaving my previous force on bad terms which is made it harder. Since I have moved it has felt like a new start and really invigorated my career and improved my morale.

• Has joining Suffolk impacted your wellbeing or work–life balance? If so, how?

Joining Suffolk has made me generally a happier person.

Whilst I have still have demanding role with huge responsibility my work life balance is far better due to the shift pattern and flexibility in my current role.

 

6. Biggest Differences and Adjustments

• What differences have you noticed between Suffolk Constabulary and your previous force?

This feels a real personable force, people matter, senior leaders seem more visible and present. The morale is much higher, the level of interdepartmental toxicity is far lower. It’s a much friendlier and happier place to work.

 

7. Personal Reflections

• Looking back, what has been the most rewarding part of transferring to Suffolk?

Given me and family a much better and happier life – my children are thriving in their new surroundings.

• What has made you feel “at home” here?

The people – it extends far wider than the people you work with from every role and rank you feel like an individual.

• What would you tell an officer who is thinking about transferring but unsure about taking the leap?

I never thought I was able to leave my last force – a one-person force for my career. It feels like a huge weight has lifted and I am able to pursue my own goals and ambitions around my own timeline.