CHARITY
reinvented himself repeatedly, first as a punk, then as a cowboy in Australia, later as an East London bricklayer. The most defining chapter, however, came when he joined the Metropolitan Police. Jonathan joined the Metropolitan Police in his twenties, rising to the rank of sergeant. He worked in high pressure environments, responding to emergencies, managing teams and dealing with the daily realities of policing in the capital. Behind the uniform, however, he was fighting a private battle. He describes pushing through exhaustion, mood swings and emotional turmoil, convinced that admitting he was struggling would be seen as weakness. Like many officers, he believed he had to cope alone. “I thought I just needed to toughen up,” he has said in interviews. “I did not realise I was living with a serious mental health condition.”
The culture of silence around mental health in policing meant he went years without support. He now speaks openly about coming close to suicide during this period, and he argues that the police service must do more to protect the wellbeing of its staff.
His diagnosis at 39 was the turning point. It allowed him to understand the forces that had shaped his life and to rebuild with clarity and purpose. Today, he
“Every step is a reminder that progress is possible.”
uses his policing background to highlight the urgent need for better mental health support for first responders.
A WALK TO START A NATIONAL CONVERSATION Jonathan’s Peace of Mind Charity Walk 2026 will take him through more than 100 towns and cities. January saw him in the Shetlands, Orkneys and Inverness. February brought him to Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth, Dunfermline and Edinburgh. In March he reached Glasgow, Kilmarnock, Dumfries and Newcastle. By April he will be in Carlisle, Keswick and Lancaster, before heading to Rochdale, Bury, Liverpool, Birmingham and Rugby in May.
June includes Oxford, London,
Portsmouth, Southampton and Bristol. July takes him across Wales, including
Cardiff, Swansea, Aberystwyth and Caernarfon. In August he will cross to Northern Ireland for Derry and Londonderry, Larne, Carrickfergus, Belfast, Newtownards and Lisburn. September brings Portadown, Banbridge, Dundalk, Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford and Cork. He will finish in October with Limerick, Ennis and Galway. He is inviting members of the public
to join him for a mile, a day or more, and is encouraging organisations along the route to host talks.
RAISING FUNDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CHARITIES Jonathan aims to raise £80,000 for four mental health charities:
• SAMH in Scotland • Mind in England and Wales • AWARE NI in Northern Ireland • AWARE in Ireland
He will also give away 60 copies of his new memoir, Finding Peace of Mind, share 30 mindfulness photographs, post 30 weekly blogs or vlogs and deliver 30 talks. The walk is self-funded, although Jonathan is open to sponsorship for essentials such as a support vehicle,
33 | POLICE | APRIL | 2026
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