Pocket Sergeant Podcast

In this powerful episode, Paul speaks with retired police officer Colin Dixon, who shares the reality of nearly 30 years on the frontline—both the highs of the job and the devastating personal toll it can take. From joining the police in 1990 with no qualifications, to working major investigations, drug operations, and proactive policing roles, Colin built a career defined by determination, instin...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Paul speaks with former police officer Vicki, who shares her harrowing experience of abuse, survival, and what happened when she turned to the very system she once served. After meeting a man on a dating app, what began as a relationship quickly spiralled into control, violence, and sexual abuse. Despite gathering the courage to report what had happene...

In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, former custody sergeant Lee Jones shares his experience of being criminally charged following a use of force incident in custody. Lee describes the events of that day, the split-second decision he made while dealing with a highly volatile detainee, and how the situation escalated into a full criminal investigation. Despite no injury being caused and...

Jeanette was nine years old when her mum died of cancer. Her father struggled with alcoholism. Police cars regularly stopped outside her home. As a child, she would dial 999 when things spiralled. Years later… she became the officer responding to calls like her own. In this powerful episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, Jeanette takes us on a journey that is as raw as it is inspiring. We talk ab...

In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, I speak with Michelle Websdale about the life and death of her former partner, Ben — a police custody sergeant who served for 24 years. Michelle shares who Ben was as a man, a father and a colleague, before discussing the events that followed his arrest by Professional Standards and the impact the investigation had on his mental health. She speaks op...

In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, I’m joined by Ryan MacDonald — former police officer, military veteran, author of Blue Lights, Dark Mind, and a powerful voice on trauma and recovery after service. Ryan served for nearly 30 years across policing and the military, including counter-terrorism, intelligence, custody, leadership roles, and operational tours overseas. But this conversati...

In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, Paul Cooper is joined by Colin Sutton — one of the UK’s most respected former Senior Investigating Officers. Colin led some of Britain’s most complex and high-profile murder investigations, including the case that finally brought Levi Bellfield to justice — without relying on forensic evidence. This is a deep, intelligent conversation about how real...

Former Detective Darren Ryan joins the Pocket Sergeant Podcast to reveal the psychological cost of investigating some of the most serious crimes in policing. For years, Darren worked high-risk safeguarding and exploitation cases. He protected vulnerable victims and carried the responsibility that comes with child protection investigations. But repeated exposure to trauma doesn’t just disappear whe...

Peter Faulding is one of the UK’s most experienced search and rescue specialists — and in this episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, he speaks openly about what really happens when people go missing in water. From serial killer investigations to high-profile missing person cases, Peter explains: Why bodies are often missed during police searches How sonar actually works (and why it’s misundersto...

In this powerful episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, Paul Cooper is joined by former detective and whistleblower Maggie Oliver to examine some of the most serious institutional failures in modern British policing. Maggie speaks openly about investigations that were halted, warnings that were ignored, and leadership decisions that prioritised reputation over accountability. Drawing on her front...

In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast , I’m joined by Ian Cook , former Traffic Officer and co-founder of Code Zero , for a brutally honest conversation about modern policing. We break down: The AI intelligence failure that embarrassed West Midlands Police Whether Chief Constables and politicians are being held accountable Why e-bike and illegal bike crime is spiralling out of control The...

In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast , Paul Cooper is joined once again by Lee Broadbent , one of the founders of the National Police Association (NPA) , to discuss why police representation in England and Wales is at a critical breaking point. Lee explains how the Breaking the Monopoly campaign evolved into the launch of the National Police Association — a new organisation challenging t...

One sentence turned a routine policing moment into one of the most viral clips in policing history . In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast , we sit down with the female police officer behind the viral “He? Excuse me?” moment — a clip that’s racked up hundreds of millions of views worldwide , sparked endless memes, and divided opinion across social media. But who is the person behind the b...

In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant podcast, Ben Dimmock shares his extensive journey in policing, highlighting the importance of mental health and wellbeing within the police force. He discusses his personal experiences with depression and how they shaped his passion for supporting colleagues. The conversation delves into the role of wellbeing teams, peer supporters, and welfare support office...

Ian Cook from Blue Light Lifestyle returns for another powerful discussion. We kick things off with an update on Code Zero, the brand-new mobile app Ian is developing alongside Ben Pearson, designed to support those working in the emergency services. We then get into the latest controversy involving North Yorkshire Police, where nine graduate officers were referred to the Professional Standards De...

In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant podcast, Claire Lilly shares the poignant story of her late husband, Alan Forcer, a war veteran whose struggles with mental health and addiction led to tragic consequences. Claire discusses the impact of Alan's experiences during his military service, the challenges they faced as a couple, and the development of the Forcer Protocol, a new policing strate...

In this conversation, Hannah Bailey shares her journey from a police officer to a wellbeing coach, discussing the challenges of facing trauma, undiagnosed PTSD, and the impact of her cancer diagnosis. She emphasizes the importance of mental health support in policing, the concept of moral injury, and her mission to help others navigate their struggles. Hannah also highlights the need for systemic...

In this episode, Catherine Davey — star of Channel 4’s The Inheritance —  shares her journey from joining the police at a young age to her experiences on the front line, the challenges she faced due to injury, and her transition to life after policing. She reflects on her time in the force, memorable stories, and the impact of her reality TV experience on her perspective of trust and alliances. Ca...

In this conversation, we highlight the challenges of communication and leadership within police culture, especially in light of recent incidents such as the North Yorkshire Police graduation controversy.  We also disucss the ongoing efforts to improve mental health and wellbeing in policing, particularly through the proposed development of a new app, Code Zero. The discussion emphasises the need f...

TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️  This episode discusses suicide and associated trauma. If you have been affected by anything in this episode, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Andy to explore the profound impact of trauma and mental health challenges faced by police officers. Through personal stories and expert insights, we shed light on the emotional toll...

TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️  This episode discusses suicide and associated trauma. If you have been affected by anything in these podcasts, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 In this episode, we sit down with Gary Hayes, a former British Transport Police Officer, to hear his honest and moving story of living through trauma and finding a way forward. Gary talks about his time on the front line, inclu...

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Mike Neville, a pioneer in forensic investigation and the mastermind behind the world’s first super recogniser unit. Discover how Mike’s groundbreaking approach to human-based facial recognition has transformed policing, helping to solve high-profile cases such as the 2011 London riots and the Novichok poisoning. We explore the extraordinary abilities of...

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with former cop, Rebecca. She was a serving police officer when she was arrested and taken to a police cell. She subsequently spent 28 days in a psychiatric hospital. Rebecca wrote a book about her experience. This has now been turned into a play. Don’t just hear Rebecca’s story on the podcast  dive deeper into her powerful journey by getting your own copy...

In this conversation, Paul Cooper and Lee Broadbent discuss the critical differences between the Police Federation and trade unions, the implications of union membership for police officers, and the ongoing legal challenge to allow police officers to form their own unions. Lee shares his experiences with the Federation, highlighting its failures and the need for change. They also touch on the impo...

In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant podcast, Emma Louise shares her journey from aspiring police officer to leaving the job for her mental health. She discusses her early fascination with policing, the reality of working as a detective, and the overwhelming pressure that led to her decision to prioritise her well-being. Emma highlights the lack of support for officers dealing with trauma and th...