Chief Inspector Vicky Causbrook

"When you become an officer in the Met you make a commitment to making London a safer place for everyone."

For Vicky, becoming a police officer was not part of the plan, but all that changed when she started work as a Forensic Scientist. During her time in the lab she would receive reports from officers about incidents of crime and the evidence it had produced, and she soon realised that she wanted to be the one writing the report and not reading it.

Vicky joined the Met 18 years ago. Since then she’s worked her way through the ranks and is a chief inspector in the Territorial Support Group (TSG).

What is your day-to-day like?

Currently I am a chief inspector on the Territorial Support Group (TSG), which is my dream job!

The TSG unit is unique to the Met and provides immediate support at large and critical incidents. The types of events we attend are things like football matches, concerts, and demonstrations.

I help with the planning for how we will police events and make sure there’s a plan for all eventualities, for example if things become violent. It’s a big responsibility, and it can be challenging, but we make sure that everyone remains safe.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

I’ve loved my time working in the Met, but I especially enjoyed working in the Neighbourhoods team because you get to work so closely with the community. Listening to their concerns first hand and having a role in making them feel safe, and supported, was very rewarding.

I worked at the Queen’s funeral and the King’s coronation which was a really humbling experience. I worked the night shift for both covering Parliament Square, when the rehearsals were taking place for both events, making sure that everyone was able to practice safely. It was hugely significant to be working on these events and I worked with lots of brilliant, professional people who were all proud of the work they were doing.

What would you say to someone considering a career in the Met?

It's not just a career but a way of life, so you have to be flexible. It’s a tough job as you may see and deal with things that you didn’t think possible and you will meet people when they’re at their most vulnerable. When you become an officer in the Met you make a commitment to making London a safer place for everyone, which can be demanding and challenging but also extremely rewarding.