I am a sergeant with the Greater Manchester Police. The main topic of my Fellowship to look at post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in policing, and how forces deal with officers and staff who have suffered with this. The aim is to find out how forces in both the USA and Australia deal with these issues, with the intention of bringing back and implementing good practices into UK forces.

My interest in this area started after I was diagnosed with PTSD following a work-based trauma. Once I was in the system, the treatment I received was excellent. However, it took a while for this to start and I began looking at whether things could be improved. As a result of the Fellowship, I have made some initial calls to officers in the USA and Australia and, from these, I can already see that there are things they do which would definitely benefit UK forces.

This research will have a huge impact on improving the mental health and the treatment of police officers and staff, and go some way in allowing them to be themselves again. For me personally, it will offer the chance to give something back to an area I am very passionate about.