It took a huge leap of faith for me to leave a career in policing after 16 years. As most of you will know, policing is more than just a job. For me, it was my entire life.

MIB has been an amazing career move. It's a company that really aligns with my goals. Supporting victims and protecting people from harm has always been a huge focus for me in my work. And let's be honest – no more supernoon shifts is a bonus – especially as a working mum to a four-year-old boy with the energy of a Tasmanian devil.

Tell us something about your professional background

I've been at Gwent Police since I was 19, starting off as a fresh-faced call handler taking non-emergency calls. Around three years later, I moved into the PNC Bureau as a data handler before becoming a community support officer. I know they sometimes get a lot of stick, but engaging with people all day and visiting children at events was such an enjoyable role.

I later became a police officer, starting out stopping cars for traffic offences before becoming a harm and vulnerability officer on surveillance operations targeting offenders who were targeting sexually exploited adults. I then passed my Sergeants exam and boards in 2021, where I worked in Neighbourhood Policing, We Don't Buy Crime, and Rural Crime. I also did a lot of work with Smartwater and was responsible for deploying covert vehicles to tackle motor vehicle theft.

What has been the highlight or most memorable moment of your career so far?

Supporting a serving solider who had PTSD and tried to commit suicide off a bridge. Helping him get the support he needed.

Anything else we should know?

At the weekends you will most probably find me in a café with avocado on toast and a latte. So, if we need to meet, you know how to get me there!

I'm joining MIB at a time when we're making our biggest-ever commitment to getting uninsured drivers off the roads —£5 million over the next two years to support a range of new initiatives. We're also continuing to develop our work with the police as part of Operation Tutelage.

What area do you cover, and how can we contact you?

I'm covering Wales and the Southwest, so please get in touch with me to come out on any operations. I look forward to working with you to make our roads safer.

• South-Wales
• Gwent
• North Wales
• Dyfed Powys
• Gloucester
• Avon and Somerset
• Wiltshire
• Devon and Cornwall
• Dorset

hsutcliffe@mib.org.uk

07539 014562

I'm also on X (Twitter) @HayleySMIB, so do give me a follow.