I really enjoyed spending a week with the West Midlands Police communications team. It was a great opportunity to see all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.
Before this, I’d only seen the occasional news headline or social media post on my feed, but the experience really opened my eyes to the effort that goes into keeping the public informed, building trust, and encouraging engagement. It’s made me appreciate the role of communications in policing so much more.
On my first day, I joined a team meeting where future campaigns were being mapped out. What really stood out was how well the team balanced structure with creativity. Ideas were flowing but everything had a clear purpose. It was fascinating to see how past campaigns were reviewed and used to shape new ones and it made me realise just how much thought goes into every message that reaches the public.
One of my favourite parts of the week was chatting with the graphic designers. They walked me through how visual content is created, from early sketches to final designs used across social media and print. I had no idea how much detail goes into things like colour choices and typography. It gave me a whole new appreciation for how visual storytelling supports the wider goals of the police force.
Another standout moment was helping photograph officers for the website. It wasn’t just about taking a photo but also about capturing the person behind the uniform in a respectful and authentic way. Every detail, from lighting to expression, was carefully considered by the force photographer and the level of skill and professionalism was impressive.
I also got to visit the West Midlands Police Museum during the week, which added a fun and historical twist to the week. It’s housed in a former lock-up, and the interactive exhibits and artefacts really brought the history of policing to life. It was a great reminder of how far things have come and how communication continues to evolve alongside it.
Towards the end of the week, I was lucky enough to visit the BBC studios and see how news content is developed. From initial interviews to polished stories aired later that same day, it was incredible to watch the speed, precision, and teamwork involved and to hear some really inspiring stories from officers, including one who had hit a major milestone in their career in catching a large number of burglary suspects.
Overall, spending time with the WMP comms team was genuinely inspiring. I saw firsthand the creativity, strategy, and hard work that goes into keeping the public informed and engaged. I used to think it was just about sharing updates but it’s really about building relationships, trust, and making sure people feel heard.
This experience has made me appreciate the role of policing communications so much more and consider it as a potential path in the future. Behind every campaign, post, and press release is a team working tirelessly to connect communities and keep people safe. I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of that, even just for a week.