Durham’s Chief Constable gives inspirational talk to staff and students
Staff and students enjoyed an inspirational talk from the Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary, Rachel Bacon, in celebration of International Women’s Day 2024.
Chief Constable Rachel Bacon with Criminology Course Co-ordinator Katy Dixon (left) and Vice Principal – Curriculum and Quality Judith Layfield.
The force’s most senior officer talked about her career in the police service and fielded questions about her role at the event at the college this morning.
Mrs Bacon, who was Deputy Chief Constable of South Wales Police before joining the Durham force in December, has also served in both Sussex and Northumbria.
Her policing career began with Sussex Police in 1995 where she worked in local policing and crime investigation. Following her role as a local policing commander in West Sussex, she became senior investigating officer across Sussex and Surrey and later Head of Crime and Safeguarding for Sussex.
Mrs Bacon transferred to Northumbria Police as Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for change, custody, criminal justice and communications in 2017, later heading up crime, safeguarding and the Regional Organised Crime Unit.
As Chief Constable, she leads more than 2,000 staff and is also the UK police lead for mental health. On appointment, she pledged to place an even greater emphasis on neighbourhood policing as part of a renewed focus on connecting with communities.
Talking about her own student years, Mrs Bacon revealed how she turned down the offer of a degree place at the University of St Andrew’s in Scotland in favour of a job at an airport, confessing that she now regretted not going to university earlier. However, it didn’t stop her career taking off!
Her audience, which also included staff and pupils from the neighbouring St John’s School and Sixth Form College, were told about the many options for entering the police force including the degree holder entry programme and the various civilian support roles including administration, HR and finance.
The college has 65 criminology students from Level 1 to BA (Hons) Degree. Level 2 student Amelia 19, from Barnard Castle, said: “I found the talk both interesting and inspiring regarding joining the police. It was really refreshing to hear what working in the police service was like from the Chief Constable’s point of view.”
Referring to International Women's Day 2024 and this year’s theme ‘Inspire Inclusion’, Mrs Bacon added: “I genuinely believe that having women in policing is really important and it is vital as a service to make us even more balanced.” #IWD2024 #InspireInclusion
Referring to International Women's Day 2024 and this year’s theme ‘Inspire Inclusion’, Mrs Bacon added: “I genuinely believe that having women in policing is really important and it is vital as a service to make us even more balanced.”
#IWD2024 #InspireInclusion
