Day in the life

Ken Mould
Communications Officer, Bow

"I am 60 now and this is my fourth year at a Central Communications Centre. In previous lives I served in the Royal Navy and spent 25 years in communications in City banking. I was made redundant from that role which led to a change of direction and this job with the Met.

"We work 12-hour shifts to ensure the service is covered 24-hours a day, including bank holidays and weekends, but that's more than compensated by the fact that when others are on their way to work, I can be out on the golf course, shopping in empty supermarkets or travelling away from London on an empty train.

"The length of the shift is tempered by the regular breaks we get, and whenever it starts getting too stressful, everyone rallies round in support.

"From a personal point of view, this is the ideal job to complete my working life as there will be full resettlement support available to me in the year leading up to actual retirement."

"But above all, it gives me great pleasure when I see one of my calls lead to an arrest, or a prevented suicide, or assistance being provided to a vulnerable person."

Michelle Rogers
Communications Officer, Bow

"I have been a Communications Officer for over three years now, and have loved every minute of it! I really do look forward to getting up for work knowing that I do a job that is essential for London.

"To be a good Comms Officer you need to have a sensible personality and must be able to remain professional – to be friendly but assertive. You need to be a good listener, and compassionate and understanding at all times, because the majority of people you speak to are distressed.

"I take a lot of satisfaction in knowing that I have helped someone in a crisis, being their first point of contact. They can be emotional but being able to calm them down whilst getting the information you need to ensure a rapid police response is a mini achievement in itself.

"Of course, the job can also be quite stressful, demanding and difficult, but you always have someone to turn to for help, whether it be a supervisor or colleague.

"With that support in place, and the right personality and perseverance, you are able to get the correct information to assist the Police Officers in helping members of the public."

Adam Harris
Communications Officer, Hendon

"I joined the Met as a Communications Officer in November 2002. I was a student and it was the first job I had ever had. Then I got on to the GT course (Special Operations room), and have a board date for a promotion interview.

"I find the role such a good challenge – it is not your normal 9–5. One day you could be saving someone's life, the next: someone's cat!

"I have learnt so much since I joined – not all just work related. I am now a much calmer person, and more sympathetic to others. I am much more chilled.

"I’ll never forget when I had a woman on the phone who couldn't speak. She was being held against her will, didn't know where she was and was just sobbing.

"All she said that I could make out was one word; I searched the whole of London for an area with that word in it. When I found what I thought was right, I dispatched the officers there, where they found her, safe, well and happy to see us."