Page 34 - Top Cover Issue 9

34 TOP COVER ISSUE 9

MY STORY

WRITTEN BY MYRIAM LE GAYE

I joined Leicestershire one region. One constant has remained he was handcuffed and removed from the
police in February though the AFO and the certain type of train. He was not involved; breathe again.
1991, following a short person they are. They always embody a On a lighter note I have managed to keep
career working with strong team ethos, honest, hard-working my Principal safe from a pantomime chicken
young people on the and with a great sense of humour. trying to peck him, received a right Royal
YTS scheme. telling off for allegedly sending the Duke of
At this time John I was the first female full-time member of Edinburgh to the wrong door to the gents –
Major was the Prime the ARV and tactical team. I subsequently not something you want to repeat in a hurry.
Minister and his government closed the became a CPO. I was made to feel welcome I have also had opportunities to protect
scheme, effectively making me redundant from day one at the firearms department world leaders in Wales and London.
at the ripe old age of 23. This brought me to and, even 20 years ago, diversity was
Leicester and the start of my policing career. embraced and I was issued with a set of I also discharged the first Taser in
Ironically a few short months later I ended small wooden grips that I would change over Leicestershire in company with my crew
up having tea with John Major through a and put on my .38 Smith & Wesson revolver. mate. We had a a short distance to travel to
cultural awareness project in my probation. the scene but, with some quick planning and
I am also part of the team that delivers all those training scenarios coming to the
I was stationed on response initially in a busy educational packages surrounding gun fore on arrival, this was the most appropriate
city area and relished the daily challenges crime; our presence is always welcomed by form of response. A full PIM process was
and satisfaction from protecting the public. teachers and students alike. Teachers are implemented to test the Force’s procedures.

My attention was drawn to the close knit always asking to borrow some of our kit for This provided a small insight into how I
teams of the force tactical support group and the unruly students,and the students are might feel post a full firearms discharge.
after nearly four years, including sometime wanting to know “what is the scariest thing Suffice to say I have had a challenging,
neighbourhood policing, I joined the TSG. you have dealt with?” enjoyable and thoroughly fulfilling 20 years
During both of these postings I was the only as an AFO and, far from being the only
female on my shift and on my serial, but it I am writing this on the 10 year anniversary female on the department, we now have our
did not seem out of the ordinary as I had of the 7/7 bombings in London and this own group, the Spice Girls:
been brought up in a large boys boarding reminded me of the palpable tension felt • I’m Ginger – because I am;
school where my father was a teacher and in the packed Leicestershire briefing room. • we have Scary – DI/DE;
house master. Every Tactical Team Member and every • Balaclava, Shot Gun, 10/5 etc;
instructor was present for a simultaneous • Posh – southern transferee who says
My main hobbies outside of work have always DE assault for some potential suspects. The barrrth and grarrrs, a great AFO who is
been sport related and it was as a runner in biggest convoy of vehicles I had ever seen Leicestershire’s gain and Sussex loss;
the Leicester police cross country team that a made their way to the addresses. No one • Sporty – Leicester City footballer and
colleague suggested I join him on a firearms relaxed until the subjects were secured. A Leicester Police basketballer – in fact any
suitability day. With no previous experience few days after this I was deployed in plain sport; and
of firearms this was all it took to ignite my clothes on the train at a Leicestershire station, • Baby – youngest, smallest and most
interest and, 20 years later, I am still an AFO. then called in by CROP officers to again feisty, but with more musical talent
detain a potential terror suspect on the train than all of the original Spice Girls put
There have been so many changes over the with his rucksack on the seat next to him. I together.
years: from lethal to less lethal weaponry, can honestly say I have never felt so much
from tactics to officer numbers, from vehicles adrenaline coursing through my body as I Ladies, I hope you all enjoy your firearms
to uniform and most recently one force to approached him and secured one of his arms, careers as much as I have ■