New policing role for former Mansfield Town sports analyst Beth
From pitch side adviser at Mansfield Town FC to protecting the public - life could not be more different for one of Nottinghamshire Police’s newest recruits.
PC Beth Wilcockson says she has achieved her goal just months after leaving her job as a data analyst for the Stags in January after deciding to pursue her dream of tackling crime.
The 27-year-old, from Mansfield, worked in the League Two side’s sport science department, where she spent five years compiling player data from training sessions and first-team matches.
Such information would help the manager decide which players to select for match days.
Now, after joining Nottinghamshire Police, she is helping courtrooms decide the fate of those who break the law.
She said: “I’ve always wanted to work for the police. They protect communities and are such good role models. I love meeting new people and policing involves interacting with all sorts of different people every day. It’s so refreshing and interesting.
“I’ve always wanted to pursue a career where I could set goals and progress up the ranks. I like the idea of working hard and it being rewarded in some way. Not all jobs come with that reward but policing certainly does.
“I want to have achievements that I can look back on and say I really made a difference there.”
PC Wilcockson has been a serving police officer for almost two months and says she has loved every minute.
She said: “It’s been really good. It’s been intense and very full-on but everyone I’ve been working with have been so brilliant. It’s nice to be happy to go to work, especially because of who you’re working with. If I ever have a question I can go to my tutor and they’re always really happy to help.
“I’ve made a couple of arrests so far. The first one was a highlight because it was my first one and I’ll never forget it. It was for not attending court and the second arrest was to do with a rape investigation. That was very intense but it’s part of the job.”
Earlier this year, it was revealed half of all new recruits to Nottinghamshire Police force are women, breaking down barriers which may once have been in place.