Ayesha, Intelligence Tasking Inspector
Part-time. Working mum. Intelligence Tasking Inspector
In the morning Ayesha could be looking after her young son. In the evening she might be leading a 24/7 team of 50 officers and staff dealing with high-threat, time-critical calls and ensuring that police officers are equipped to go into situations with all the intelligence information they need to understand the risks.
It’s all in a day’s work for Ayesha, an Intelligence Tasking Inspector. She is one of many Avon and Somerset Police officers and staff successfully combining exciting and challenging careers with working flexibly around family needs.
Ayesha, who has a Master’s Degree in Psychology and Criminology, had never encountered a police officer and had little idea what the police force actually did when she applied on a whim in 2004. Sixteen years later, she has never since considered doing anything else.
Develop skills for life
Starting out as a patrol officer, Ayesha developed skills for life such as empathy, listening and building public confidence. Two years on, she joined the burglary team, sparking a passion for investigations. She moved into investigations as a detective constable, later passing her sergeant’s exams.
In 2018, three months after passing her inspector’s promotion board, Ayesha became a mum and now works part-time hours. “It hasn’t been a difficult transition.” she says. “This is a caring organisation and that comes from the top down.”
“Working part-time doesn’t mean I am any less valued or any less ambitious. I am still supported to reach high in my career but here we recognise that home-life balance is also important.”
As a mixed-race woman of white and Jamaican heritage, Ayesha is proud of the work being done to recruit people from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience to the organisation. “I would say to anyone, please don’t think you won’t fit in. Don’t worry if you’re black, white, brown, male, female, full-time, part-time, LGBT+, have a disability, etc. You will be welcomed for the person you are and the unique mix of skills, knowledge and experience you bring. Look at me – a female, a mum, mixed-race, part-time – and smashing it!”