WHAT IT'S LIKE TO... WORK IN COUNTER TERRORISM

Counter Terrorism Policing Senior Investigating Officer Jess* shares how her team help keep us safe

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While the threat of terrorism is ever-present, it's reassuring to know there's a team dedicated to keeping us safe across the UK. Women form 32% of that workforce - one of them is Counter Terrorism Policing Senior Investigating Officer Jess, who leads high-profile terrorism investigations.

Hi Jess, how did you get into counter-terrorism?

Many people I work with had family members in the police, but I didn't. I just really love investigating - even as a kid, I was obsessed with Nancy Drew detective novels! I started out as a response officer, before moving to the Criminal Investigation Department. After 15 years, I moved into the investigative side of counter-terrorism. The vetting process was extremely thorough, and while I had no concerns about skeletons in any cupboards, I was glad my life was so boring!

What does a typical working day look like for you?

Every day is different and I really enjoy that variety. I could be sharing intelligence with MI5 on a developing case, consulting mental-health experts or preparing for a trial with the Crown Prosecution Service. If someone has been arrested, they can only be detained for a strict number of hours, which means early starts and late nights speaking to them in custody. That means I might not see my kids for a few days, so I'm really lucky to have a great family network behind me.

What are the most common misconceptions about your job?