In this episode, Donna interviews Sharon Birch, a former police officer with a rich history in public service. Sharon shares her journey from growing up in Hartlepool to joining the Metropolitan Police in London during the 1980s, where she faced the challenges of being one of the few female officers at the time. She discusses her experiences in various roles, including her work in domestic violence and child protection units, and reflects on the cultural changes within the police force over the years. After a medical retirement due to health issues, Sharon transitioned into running a children's nursery and eventually pursued her passion for writing.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Sharon Birch grew up in Hartlepool and was influenced by her family's military background, which inspired her to pursue a career in public service, specifically in the police force.

• Joining the police in the mid-1980s, Sharon faced a male-dominated environment with limited female representation. She navigated challenges such as sexism and the expectation to perform certain tasks based on her gender, but she found fulfilment in her work and developed resilience.

• Sharon's career in the police progressed from working in the East End of London to the West End, where she took on roles in crime squads and child protection units. She played a pivotal role in establishing the first domestic violence unit in the Metropolitan Police.

• After medically retiring from the police due to health issues, Sharon pursued her passion for writing. She began by writing short stories and eventually published books under pseudonyms, including "Confessions of an Undercover Cop" and novels like "She's Not There" and "Mamon."

• Sharon is actively working on new writing projects, including a collection of criminal poetry set to be published. She aims to secure a literary agent to help her navigate the publishing landscape and potentially adapt her stories for television.

BEST MOMENTS

"I loved my job. Absolutely loved it. And it was very much sink or swim. There weren't very many women when I joined."

"I think it is in everybody to be a criminal. We can all teeter on that balance and it's in with everybody."

"I didn't want to do business, didn't want to employ anybody. Anyway, long story short, I obviously did it."

"You mentioned Enid Blyton, which is obviously sort of mystery stories. So tell us about your writing career."

"I didn't like the title Undercover Cop because all of us worked in plainclothes... But it wasn't written for cops. It's written just for the general public to read."

ABOUT THE HOST

Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades.

She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles. Some of the stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and vicarious moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. Alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity, highlighting the positive impact individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.

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https://www.lifeafterpublicservice.co.uk/

Email: Donna@lifeafterpublicservice.co.uk

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-bentley-carr

This podcast features real-life stories from frontline public service workers, covering tough topics such as war, trauma and loss, and may be triggering to some listeners. Guests also share their tales of everyday heroism, inspiring joy, hope, empathy and humanity. If you have a story to share that could encourage others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/