WORK IN COUNTER TERRORISM

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

- CHRISTABEL SMITH

While the threat of terrorism is everpresent, it's reassuring to know that 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.

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 day look like?

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?

Like most people, I love TV crime dramas, but I'm the most annoying person to watch them with because I'll point out every inconsistency, such as sound coming out of police radios that aren't switched on, and I see plot twists coming a mile off! The biggest misconception is that crime investigators are capable of being experts in every area, from forensics to technology. No one can interview a subject of interest one minute, then be conducting surveillance on them the next.