A Career of Service: Gavin Wong’s Journey in Policing

Gavin Wong joined Thames Valley Police at 27, switching careers from sales to policing, a decision that shaped a remarkable journey. As the highest-ranked officer of Chinese heritage in the force, Gavin held several senior leadership roles, including Head of Firearms and Local Police Commander for Slough. Now retired from operational policing, he continues to give back as a Leadership Development Trainer. In this blog, Gavin reflects on his path, the challenges, the proud moments, and the advice he has for others considering a career in policing.

Roles: Joined as a police officer and progressed through several senior roles, including Superintendent and Head of Firearms, Temporary Chief Superintendent and Head of the Joint Operations Unit, Superintendent and Local Police Commander for Slough, and Temporary Chief Superintendent and Head of Local Policing and Resilience. Currently serving as a Leadership Development Trainer.

Age at joining: 27

Length of service: 30 years

Tell us a bit about your background (e.g. studies, work experience, family) & what attracted you to policing? Did your friends and family support your decision to join the police?

I had been to university in Manchester to study Business and started working for Rank Xerox in sales and marketing. I wasn’t really enjoying the role, or to be honest, wasn’t very good at it! So, I decided to change careers completely and apply for the Police. My family was fully supportive, which was good. I applied to Thames Valley Police under the then Graduate Entry Scheme, which I failed, but was invited to join as a regular candidate, which I did- and never looked back!

What do you want people to know about what it’s like being a TVP officer from an Asian Ethnic minority background?

For me, the only thing that really held me back was myself, and on some levels, I probably underachieved. However, I think there is better support now for employees from diverse backgrounds, and I’d like to think that I’d have been more successful if I’d joined now.

What challenges/ barriers did you face within TVP/ policing?

I didn’t really face any obvious challenges from being from an ethnic background, but partly because I feel I joined at a slightly older age and was just more confident about standing up to any nonsense.

Did you feel supported in your workplace?

I would say generally yes, but I always had to ask for support. I never really had anyone senior who took a specific interest in me other than a mentor from a different force, and I would just say, having that level of encouragement from someone senior was significant.

Best moment of your career within TVP?

Working within the operational environment has always been my most enjoyable. I was fortunate to have been a firearms officer and worked within both firearms and public order arenas. This allowed me to experience some of the more significant events in TVP’s history, such as Royal Ascot, Royal Weddings, Royal Funerals, and other large-scale operations. But probably the most satisfying was being the Commander of Slough. A challenging Local Policing Area for many different reasons, but made enjoyable by the people working there.

What is the best piece of advice you can give to anyone from a Black/Asian Ethnic Minority background people considering joining the force?

The world is your oyster. Policing is a great occupation, and you can achieve pretty much what you set yourself. But you need to be proactive. Don’t wait for someone to notice you; the only person who can make it happen is you. Be good at what you do, so you can be proud of what you do. Remember that there will be ups and downs, sometimes it takes more time than you want, but you will get there. And above all, try to enjoy it, otherwise there’s not much point doing it!

There are many career opportunities in policing. Would you consider any in particular in the future?

Having retired, I am very happy now as a Leadership Development Trainer. Hopefully, I can give something back to the organisation and help people develop to their potential, and be better than I was.

When you look back on when you first joined, do you believe things have changed or are changing?

Policing is definitely better than 30 years ago. Yes, there are still challenges, and we keep getting it wrong, which is frustrating, but overall, things are better. We just need to keep striving to improve, and I believe we are doing that.

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If you’re ready to make a difference and be part of a rewarding career that challenges and inspires you every day, why not join us as a Police Officer?

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.