20 Years on the Beat: Superintendent Euan’s Policing Journey

No two days are ever the same for Superintendent Euan Livingstone. With over two decades of experience in policing, he has navigated frontline operations, led teams, and learned from every experience. In this blog, he looks back on the experiences that have shaped his policing journey and keep him inspired every day.  

This year marked your 20 years in policing with Thames Valley Police (TVP) – how does it feel to reach this milestone? 

Reaching 20 years in policing feels like a significant milestone, both a proud achievement and, if I’m honest, a little bit daunting. It coincides with my 40th birthday, which makes it even more meaningful; half my life has been dedicated to policing.  

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work in two different police forces and across every area of TVP, taking on a variety of roles. Moving around the organisation has kept things fresh, challenged me, and helped me develop.  

What’s most important is that I still enjoy coming to work and being involved in some really interesting jobs and working with really good people. 

What inspired you to join the police, and how has your journey evolved? 

Policing always felt like a natural path for me. While police dramas like The Bill sparked my early interest, it was a ride-along in an Area car in Wimbledon that truly confirmed this was the career I wanted to pursue. 

When I first joined, I focused on gaining as much experience and developing my skills. Early in my career, I transferred to the Metropolitan Police Service’s Territorial Support Group (TSG), where I gained invaluable exposure to high-pressure, large-scale events such as the Notting Hill Carnival, the London Riots, and the London Olympics. These experiences shaped my understanding of operational policing and teamwork under intense scrutiny. 

Despite enjoying my time in London, I felt a pull back to the Thames Valley, where my family and friends are. Upon returning, I joined the Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) teams, which offered varied, fast-paced challenges and outstanding training. From there, I progressed through Response Sergeant and Inspector roles – including staff officer assignments during the COVID-19 pandemic before moving into senior leadership as Deputy Commander and now Superintendent. At each stage, I’ve balanced operational work with leadership responsibilities, and this hands-on approach continues to inform my decision-making and connection with frontline teams today.

How has your family influenced your career? 

With both parents having served in Strathclyde Police and my twin brother volunteering as a Special Constable for 16 years, I grew up surrounded by stories of policing and a strong sense of right and wrong. Their example instilled values such as resilience, tenacity, and a strong work ethic, which have guided me throughout my career and continue to shape my approach to leadership principles.  

Left to right: Euan and his brother Craig, recognised for their “exceptional performance” during the Oxfordshire M40 attack 2020.

My brother has spent the majority of his service within Roads Policing and loves being part of the police. Despite his full-time role as director of farming and estates for the Sainsbury family, he has always been keen to volunteer, supporting colleagues whenever he can. Both my parents served for different lengths of time, and seeing their dedication and drive has influenced my own career, something I hope my two boys will learn over time as well.

What does your role as Superintendent involve, and what do you enjoy most about it? 

My role as Superintendent is varied daily. Operational policing always takes priority, and I often chair silver meetings for serious incidents. I oversee around 450 uniformed staff across the Buckinghamshire Local Command Unit (LCU), working closely with the LCU Commander, Detective Superintendent, and Chief Inspectors on performance, resourcing, and key operational areas. 

I manage portfolios including knife crime, attendance, team performance, Community Policing, budgets, and work with the Community Safety Partnership, as well as supporting force-wide portfolios like Prevent and on-call rotas. I enjoy overseeing significant incidents, facilitating teams working together, and testing new ways of working. I still love getting out alongside teams and meeting new officers. 

What have been some of the standout moments or proudest achievements in your career so far? 

Standout moments include operational incidents with the TSG and ARV teams, which are fast-moving and demand quick decision-making and teamwork. 

A firearm being discharged at me while on ARVs is one I won’t forget in a hurry! Another highlight was delivering the Knife Angel project in Milton Keynes (MK) as Chief Inspector, educating 5,000 children with MK Dons and the Safety Centre charity, helping reduce knife crime. 

Other memorable experiences include policing both royal weddings, meeting Prince William, and travelling to New York with the police for a charity run. I’m also proud of passing my promotion exams and boards without a degree; I didn’t know I could, so achieving this felt particularly rewarding. 

We know you’ve got a strong connection to rugby – how has sport played a role in your policing journey and your support for the TVP team? 

I played rugby from the minis and juniors with my local club. Through school, I represented my county, the Saracens Youth Academy, and Scottish exiles districts. I joined the police when I realised a nasty injury would have me sidelined for some time. During my time in the Police, I have always played for the force team. My time in the Met Police Service saw me travel widely, representing the force. With TVP, I’ve played in many teams and captained as well. My last run-out was last year against the ambulance service, and I was thankful to hear the final whistle! I now support the team as a committee member, travelling with TVP, sometimes as the water boy, sometimes presenting caps. I love being involved.  

Playing force sport has allowed me to meet new people, travel, and represent the team, which is something to be proud of. I also coach my boys’ rugby teams most Sunday mornings at Bicester Rugby Club, although dealing with criminals can be easier! 

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in policing today? 

Policing has changed in the last 20 years; however, the fundamentals of what we do remain the same. Good people trying to protect others. Be prepared to see some challenging scenes, be prepared to deal with chaos and crisis in a highly scrutinised environment. However, policing asks the best from the best people, and we continue to deliver time and again. I would highly recommend a ride-along to see and hear first-hand from those doing it every day. 

—  

To find out more about a policing career with TVP – including the realities of working on a response, initial training, and applying to become a Police Officer, please visit our Police Officer page.