Career Profile Inspector Bobby Singleton
I joined the Police Service of Northern Ireland in November 2001 as one of the first intake of new recruits following changes implemented as part of the Good Friday Agreement.
Prior to deciding to pursue this career I had worked as a retail manager for a year after completing a university degree. I suppose what appealed to me about being a police officer was the idea that even in a small way what you are doing can make a very real and positive difference.
The training at Garnerville lasted for 20 weeks and I successfully graduated, or as it is termed 'passed out' in April 2002. After further operational training I was initially posted to Grosvenor Road police station in West Belfast where I spent my 2 year probationary period as a Constable in Response and Neighbourhood Policing Teams.
During your probationary period you get a sense of the diversity that exists within policing. While some of my colleagues were interested in reactive investigative Detective roles, my interest was principally in proactive policing. This interest led me to joining the area's Operational Policing team in 2004, where I spent the next 2 years working in intelligence led policing including plain clothes, search and anti crime operations. Our activities tended to focus on drugs and vehicle crime, which were local priorities. I really enjoyed this work and at the same time was provided with opportunities to experience other areas of work including public order. I was one of hundreds of officers policing the serious disturbances following the contentious Whiterock parade in 2005.
Career development in policing can be lateral such as moves to other departments and specialities or vertical in the form of promotion. In October 2006 following an 18month process incorporating knowledge and scenario based assessments I was promoted to Sergeant and opted to transfer to South Belfast District Command Unit (this unit has since been incorporated into B District). Working primarily from Lisburn Road station, I spent 18 months performing a variety of roles including Response, Neighbourhood, Call Management, Custody and Change Team Sergeant.
The opportunity to take part in a further promotion process presented itself and in October 2007 I qualified to the rank of Inspector. In January 2008 I took up a role in Headquarters as Acting Inspector Staff Officer to Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland. This position gave me a new perspective on the strategic day-to-day management of the Service.
In August 2008 I successfully qualified and was invited to join the police national Higher Potential Development Scheme. This involved completing a variety of assessments (including 2 days assessment centres in England) over a period of months.
The scheme provides unique development opportunities within the Service as well as access to national training courses.
On my first developmental posting following my promotion to the rank of Inspector, I was placed in the Police Service's Criminal Justice Department which deals with Vetting, Disclosure, Public Prosecution Service Liaison, Community Safety, Community Engagement and Public Protection.
In the near future I will be commencing work on refreshing the Service's Policing with the Community strategy before returning to an operational posting later in the year.
I've really enjoyed the past 8 years and would recommend policing as a career to anyone. In particular I would encourage those from minority communities to join as it is critical that we, as a Service, are reflective and representive of the entire community.
