PEOPLE from all walks of life learned about what it takes to join Devon & Cornwall Police at a series of pop-up events across the Duchy, organised by the Positive Action team and supported by the Diverse Communities and local neighbourhood policing teams.

The van popped up in Bodmin, St Austell, Penzance and Truro. Speaking on Lemon Quay, Positive Action officer PC John Holland said: “The beauty of these events is that people who might not have seen themselves in policing are able to talk to us, and go away considering it as an option.

“In the UK, we police by consent, which means the public has to see themselves in policing. Positive Action makes sure there are strands of diversity in the organisation – we recruit the best people from the widest pool possible.”

Under-represented areas include women (with a 60/40 split in favour of male officers), ethnicity and neurodiversity. “I have ADHD and dyslexia,” said PC Holland. “I’m happy to share my own experience and tell people about the support available.”

Many a myth was busted by the team. Firstly, you don’t have to be an officer on the beat to work in the police - there are 230 different roles including HR, media, graphics and payroll, many of which don’t require a driving licence.

Secondly, age is but a number. “You have to be 18 to join the force,” said PC Holland, “but many people say they thought about it when they were younger, but now they are too old. That’s not necessarily the case - we’re looking for lived experience.”

Thirdly, you don’t have to be British; you simply have to have been resident in the UK for three years and have a right to work here.

Kenyan-born PC Richard Chula has been in the UK since 2005 and worked in travel and tourism before joining the police force. He spent 10 years in Wiltshire before transferring to Camborne eight years ago.

“Ethnic minority officer numbers are very low at the moment, and we are very widely spread,” he said. “The result is that you might not see or speak to one locally.

“Consequently, getting people in that group to even consider policing has a low uptake, perhaps due to a lack of role models. Then there’s media influence; they see how ethnic people have been treated by the police and think, ‘I won’t be considered for that job.’

“But really, it’s a job anyone can do if you just take that step to look into it. The opportunities and support are there, and you’re not treated differently to anyone else in the job.”

Sarah Corber was on hand to promote voluntary roles such as special constables. Adult volunteers are also required in Camborne, Launceston and St Austell to run cadet units for 13- to 17-year-olds, sharing with them the values of citizenship and policing. “No policing background is required or these roles – we have people from all walks of life,” she said.

The series of events concludes tomorrow (Friday, March 27) on The Moor, Falmouth from 9am until noon.

For more information about available roles at Devon & Cornwall Police, visit the force website.