Aileen O’Connor, Chair of Thames Valley Police Federation
“I was at a real crossroads in my career. I had done lots of acting up, as an acting skipper, but I couldn’t pass the sergeants exam, I’m very practical but just couldn’t keep the information in my head, I can’t apply it to the test!”
PC Aileen O’Connor has been an officer with Thames Valley Police for 19 years and a Fed rep for three years. Her progression to Deputy Branch Chair has been rapid, just three years since the last round of national elections.
“My view of the Federation was very much I pay my subs every month, but I didn’t know what the Federation does. When I joined I signed-up because I knew if I got into trouble I would call upon them to help.
“I had no insight into the Federation and actually I never had any dealings with issues like PTSD or being served any misconduct papers or a gross misconduct and so I didn’t have a bad experience where the Federation has supported me to drive me into becoming a Fed rep.
“My drive to become a rep was a new challenge for me. I wanted to change my view of the Federation at the time because I thought it was just all old white males and I didn’t know what they did.
“In recent months I’ve been elected to the National Council, as one of the twelve additional members, who along with Branch Chairs and Secretaries, make up the membership of the Council.”
Views expressed here are from the time when Aileen was a Fed rep.