International Women’s Day: How Fed rep went from pub manager to police officer

8 March 2023

From pub manager to police officer - and now a full-time Police Federation representative - Terasa Holden helps us celebrate International Women’s Day, as she reflects on her career in the Force.

As a self-confessed cheerleader for everyone else, but not herself, Terasa said she always lacked self-confidence and despite dreaming of joining the police, never felt she would be able to.

Now, 13 years into her policing career, Terasa reveals how being born blind inspires her to support members with disabilities, as the branch’s equality lead.

“I am very proud of the journey I’ve been on to get here,” said mother-of-three Terasa, who explains she was registered blind at just six weeks.

“I thank my lucky stars every single day that I am where I am, and now, I want to help others who might feel like their disability or neurodiversity will prevent them from getting to where they want to be.

“I’m constantly hearing young people saying they want to become a police officer and then saying ‘but’ - I want to show people that there are ways of working, in most cases, that mean they can join the Force.

“I believe everyone should be given the same opportunities.”

Terasa explains that her optic nerves were late developing, which means that at around one year, she started to see. However, a delay in her sight meant she did not start talking until she was around five-years-old.

“My mum pushed for me and I work hard, every single day and night, to get to where I want to be - and where I am today,” continued Terasa.

“I know I’m not naturally clever but I’m proof that it’s not just those with an education who can develop a career. After all, everyone brings something different to the job.”

When Terasa was 35, she found herself at a crossroads, needing to make the decision between either buying out the pub she was running or joining the Force as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO). 

“I joined as a PCSO at 35, specifically at local schools and I loved it. It immediately felt like the job for me, but like a lot of roles, it didn’t offer any opportunity for career growth. So in 2010, I applied to be a police officer and I passed first time,” said Terasa, who has worked on the frontline, on the neighbourhood team and as a hate crime officer.

In May last year, she became the first female full-time Fed rep to join the branch’s council.

She ended: “Don’t get me wrong, this role is hard but I’ve never experienced job satisfaction like it. When you’re helping your own, and you’re part of a team that helps a member get the results they deserve, that is extremely rewarding.”