Fed member shares pride at Women in Policing recognition
29 July 2024
A Dyfed Powys Police Federation member has reflected on the personal journey behind her recent achievement as a runner-up in the British Association for Women in Policing (BAWP) awards.
PC Jodi Harris clinched second place in the ‘Inspirational Police Woman’ category at the BAWP’s awards ceremony held over 3 and 4 June. The ceremony takes place annually to celebrate the accomplishments of women in policing across officers, staff and volunteers.
Jodi was nominated for the award by Sergeant Matthew Langley and revealed she was emotional when this was confirmed to her in an email.
“Just to see the words in front me that I was in contention for a national award was quite surreal. I had a tear in my eye, for sure. It was totally unexpected but so thoughtful and heartfelt of my sergeant, Matthew,” she said.
Runner-up
The 37-year-old then attended the BAWP event at Carden Park in Cheshire, where she was announced as runner-up.
She continued: “All the nominees were very talented police officers, so I was over the moon to come second. It was a real honour and it just means a lot to know I am making a difference and that people can see it.”
Jodi's acknowledgement comes after a police career that has so far spanned over four years and has been inspired by her experiences in younger life. The nod she received from her sergeant, as he informed her, was not centred around any specific incident, but much rather her all-round character.
“Growing up, I was a looked-after child. Of course, these circumstances weren’t always easy, but they’re part of who I am,” she said.
“In Ammanford, we deal with quite a lot of children in care and I try and use my experiences to engage and empathise with them. A lot of looked-after children can feel so marginalised and will tell people, ‘you don’t know how I feel.’
“But I’m open and honest about my own childhood and tell them I do know how they feel. Obviously, I’m not doing it in a manipulative way – I’m just being myself – but it has helped us as police to de-escalate situations like missing child cases and domestic incidents.”
Jodi says she only realised the topic could be seen as a conversational tool when she was asked by her sergeant if she was embellishing stories about her past in order to gain a child’s approval.
Enthusiasm
"He just very innocently put that question to me one day. Before that, I hadn’t even thought much about what I was doing. As I say, there’s no ulterior motive with it, I’m just being myself,” she added.
The constable went on to discuss the impact she had on a particular child repeatedly the subject of calls to Dyfed Powys Police up until two years ago.
“There was a 9-year-old girl in Ammanford who ran away from her care home a lot. I struck up a rapport with her and would walk and talk with her when we’d get called out. It even got to a point where she’d ask me questions and show enthusiasm towards me.
“We don’t receive any calls about her anymore and I’d like to think I played a part in that. It’s so pleasing to know a vulnerable child is now making decisions which allow her to be safer.
Understood
“Sometimes, they just want to be understood.”
For Jodi, to be recognised as an inspiration comes as long-term validation not only in terms of her upbringing, but her career ambitions too. Having wanted to be in the Police since school, she says her growth into the person and officer she is today make her achievement all the more satisfying.
“You don’t join the Force for awards, you join to help people. Growing up, I just always wanted to help people.
“It is very nice to be thought of in this way, though. Of course, police awards inspired by specific incidents are very much needed, but I’m glad there are also awards for officers just being who they are over a period of time.
“Either way, as long as the attention is on all the things we do well as police, I’m happy – I think there can never be enough of that,” she ended.
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