Welcome to the second instalment of our series, “A Day in the Life of…,” where we delve into the daily experiences of those who serve, protect, and uphold our communities. This series aims to offer an insider’s perspective on the diverse roles within policing and related professions, showcasing the dedication, challenges, and triumphs of our contributors.
This week, we are delighted to feature a contribution from Clare Moody, the Police & Crime Commissioner for Avon & Somerset Police. We hope you enjoy this fascinating insight.
Firstly, congratulations on your recent appointment. Can you tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to become a Police and Crime Commissioner?
Thank you for the congratulations, it’s a privilege to have been elected to this role.
Throughout my career I’ve been fortunate to have leadership roles where I can represent others and be able to advocate for them. The role of a PCC is to be the connection between the people of our area and the strategic direction of Avon and Somerset Police. It is also to hold the police to account for delivering an efficient and effective service. Both of these functions make use of the skills that I’ve developed through my working life and allow me to continue in public service.
Immediately before being elected, I was co-Chief Exec of a national equality and human rights charity, which anyone who has worked in a charity will know involves a very broad range of leadership skills and team working. Before running the charity, I served as a Member of the European Parliament for our area and among other things I was Vice Chair of the Security and Defence Committee in Parliament. I have also worked at the heart of government in No.10 Downing Street and was a Trade Union officer for over twenty years. These roles have all had leadership, strategic planning and problem solving at the heart of them.
How does your day start?
I usually start my day with a cup of coffee, followed by more cups of coffee as the morning progresses. As you can imagine, the diary is usually quite packed so it’s important for me to make time to review the day ahead and what I hope to achieve during it. This prep time follows on from my reviewing and prepping the night before – where I reflect on the day and go over the diary, so that I can understand and prepare for any requests or questions that may come up. It’s a hard-learned lesson that nothing beats preparation and review for being effective.
What does a typical day involve?
The short answer is there isn’t a typical day. Every day brings a mix of meetings with police officers and staff to discuss their work and any issues or concerns they have, visits to charities that are making a difference to the people they serve, holding meetings with the public about issues that matter to them and meeting with local authorities, criminal justice partners and other agencies about how we can work together to improve safety across Avon and Somerset.
Right now, I’m creating a comprehensive Police and Crime Plan to address the evolving challenges in policing and to deliver lasting solutions. We are asking for people to respond to the consultation on the draft Plan and to share their ideas on how we make the Plan a reality. I would welcome receiving responses from PCDA and DHEP students to this consultation. Please share your insights with me here: www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk/about/police-crime-plan24-29
What aspects of your job do you find most rewarding?
I see it as a privilege to be able to affect positive change in the police service the public receives. I am driven by making things better for victims and members of the public who rely on their police, to provide a service when they need it the most.
What would success in your role look like for you?
I fully recognise the responsibility that comes with my role as PCC, and I’m deeply committed to making a real, measurable impact on the standards of our police service by the end of my term. Through my current Police and Crime Plan consultation I’m gathering valuable feedback, which will help to define the way we deliver and measure the impact of the Plan. The results must be ones the public can feel and recognise. Success for me would be hearing from members of the public that the service they receive has noticeably improved.
What do you see as the main benefits of a university education for police officers, and what do you think the educational priorities are?
A university education for police officer offers a formidable foundation, through developing critical thinking skills and offering students a deeper insight into some of the complex challenges they’ll face through their work.
It’s truly hard to balance study and front-line duties, but it gives students a deeper level of learning and skills that will serve them well throughout their career.
I also see huge potential for Avon and Somerset to gain insights from the students’ dissertations and research projects and the fresh perspectives on how the police service operates and is delivered.
And lastly, what do you do for fun?
I find great joy in nature and appreciate taking long walks whenever I can, to take in the peace and sense of calm that comes from enjoying landscapes, wildlife and birdsong. I also love reading, when I can make the time, and being with my family and friends. When you live a busy and sometimes stressful life it really is important to take time to recharge – something I know many of you reading this blog can relate to.
Don’t forget, you can always reach out to me and my office with any concerns or suggestions you may have: www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk
Editorial Team
Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer); Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer) & Micah Hassell (Senior Lecturer).
If you would like to be a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.