INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Sergeant Jen Sharpling, here and right
that is a massive obstacle for some people.” To overcome the issue, Lucy created
a female only Method of Entry (MoE) course. Six officers joined it last year and it received positive feedback. Since then, a Level 1 MoE has been introduced, bringing in a lock snapping and lock sliding course, as it makes up a large proportion of frontline work. The investment of smaller tools means more officers are now able to complete the task at hand. “Some said it had definitely broken down the barriers for them. It is about giving officers something to do the job,” added Lucy. “I firmly believe every response officer should be able to be some form of Method of Entry trained.
“I have been led by some very, very good supervisors
Service in 2008 in response on the frontline, describing it as her “absolute passion”. She highlighted how she never experienced barriers when she first joined, but this all changed when she became pregnant. “When I first started to feel barriers, it
was when I got pregnant with my boy,” said Jen. “I have four boisterous boys and my husband is also in the job and the stark difference to how he was treated compared to how I was treated at the beginning of our parenting journey was incredible.”
“We are so much more than the bleep test. I have never had a complaint during my 16
who have given me the right nudge when I have needed it and hopefully, what I have done will inspire other people throughout their careers. “When I move on and do something else, hopefully someone else will come in and take it to that next stage.”
According to Jen she was told to move
teams and it was implied by leadership she was “no use anymore”. In 2020 during lockdown, Jen gave
Our next inspirational speaker was Sergeant Jen Sharpling, Women in Policing Award Winner 2022, who shared her experience on perinatal mental health in policing, and how she ended up as the co-founder of BleepKind. Jen joined the Metropolitan Police
birth to her third child and was diagnosed with post-natal depression, maternal OCD, PTSD and anxiety. “I just thought this was what being a mum was all about, but it was a really hard time”, said Jen. Feeling like she needed someone to speak to about her concerns over her perinatal conditions in the workplace, she soon realised there was no clear signposting to where she could get help in the force.
Jen soon launched a survey to gauge
years at Peckham. I am a good police officer and I deserve to be in policing.”
the views and experiences of other officers and has now set up a pilot of the Blue Mind Peer Support Network, with support from Liz Barnet, chair of the National Family Support Network. By skipping the GP process, it gives officers the chance to get the help they need swiftly with direct referrals into a perinatal and mental health support team. Attitudes have shown there is a need for more education as it is not something that just affects women. In fact, one in ten men experience paternal depression in the postnatal period, while one in five women suffer. Jen continued the webinar by sharing how she found herself as the co-founder of BleepKind.
Jen set up the peer support network for those required to complete the bleep test for their job role in February 2021, alongside Northumbria Sergeant Carly Baillie, after discovering the negative attitudes towards those who worry about the test. In 2021 there was an anonymous
Twitter account talking about the bleep test and their concerns, which received a barrage of hateful comments. “I couldn’t believe the abuse they got on there. I was stunned,” commented Jen. “We are so much more than the bleep test. I have never had a complaint during my 16 years at Peckham. I am a good police officer and I deserve to be in
11 | POLICE | APRIL | 2024
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