'Game Changer'

The Shift Workers Coach

In this episode, we explore the world of shift work and the unique challenges faced by police officers and other shift workers. Our guest, Grace Cowan, also known as "The Shift Workers Coach," shares her invaluable insights on how to prioritize your welfare and make lifestyle changes that can transform your health and well-being while working in the emergency services. Grace, a former police constable herself, understands the demanding nature of shift work and the toll it can take on one's physical and mental health. She discusses practical strategies for putting yourself first, including tips on nutrition, exercise, and stress management. Grace emphasizes the importance of self-care and how small, consistent changes can lead to significant improvements in overall wellness. Hear how to balance the demands of the job with personal health goals, and how to create a sustainable routine that supports long-term well-being. Grace's approach is both empathetic and actionable, making it easier for shift workers to implement these changes into their daily lives. Listen to Grace's inspiring journey from a police officer to a successful lifestyle and fitness coach, and discover how you can become the happiest, healthiest, and best version of yourself despite the challenges of ‘the job’ and shifts. To see the results for yourself and find further information visit: Website: www.theshiftworkerscoach.co.uk Instagram: theshiftworkerscoach   References from the podcast: Aked, J.,Marks, N., Cordon, C., & Thompson, S. (2008). Five ways to wellbeing. London: New Economics Foundation. Accessible at: https://neweconomics.org/uploads/files/five-ways-to-wellbeing-1.pdf

'Game Changer'

Operation Soteria was launched as a change programme in June 2021 within Avon and Somerset Police after Home Office funded research into the investigation of rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) reaching charge, and the criminal justice system as a whole. Combining practitioner knowledge with academic research it aimed to provide transformational change to support all police forces and has led to developing a national operating model from July 2023. Detective Superintendent Heather Wilson, West Yorkshire Police's Strategic Lead for Violence against Women and Girls (VaWG) and Operation Soteria joins us in this episode to give insight into the challenges, progress, and future landscape of this changing game to transform the investigative approach and the policing service to victims.

The 'D' word

This episode looks at higher education and policing where officers in England and Wales now join the police with a degree, gain a degree on joining, or even join and not gain any formal qualifications. Tom Andrews, former police sergeant and officer for 13 years and now Lecturer in Policing from the University of Derby joins us to discuss the origins, the politics, and the current landscape of the policing degree discussion. Researched and published in this subject area, Tom has widely spoken on social media about degrees in policing and tells all there is about the benefits of higher education for police officers, what the critics rhetoric is on the subject, and that it’s perhaps the ‘Degree’ word that might be the issue. For those on the policing degree entry routes, thinking of joining the police on one, or cynical of police officers now undergoing higher education the evidence base is here adding to the call for the professionalisation of policing in the UK. We've added a poll to see what our listeners thoughts are after they have listened to the episode.

'Hotel Tango Two Three'

The first podcast from The School of Criminology, Investigation, and Policing at Leeds Trinity University.  In this episode former West Yorkshire Police officer and Channel 5 'Interceptor'  Ben Pearson joins us to discuss his rollercoaster journey from TC Pearson to household television name, and the impact that the media attention had. Openly candid about his experience Ben tells the full story and where it hit rock bottom, and why. Coming back from this life changing experience we get an insight to the inspirational work that Ben is now involved with as part of his charity '1965'. This is the first episode of monthly podcasts being produced by the School of Criminology, Investigation, and Policing at Leeds Trinity University.