A Mother and Daughter on Both Sides of the 999 Line

Mother’s Day celebrates the bonds that shape us, and for Call Handler Karen and PC Evie, that bond runs through their shared world of policing. One is on the frontline, the other takes the calls that send officers into action, a mother and daughter supporting each other on both sides of the same emergency line. For this blog, we joined Evie as she visited her mum in the control room, where they spoke about the pride, the worry, and the unbreakable bond that comes from working on opposite ends of the same 999 call.

What was it like watching your daughter train to become an officer, knowing she’d be responding to the kinds of calls you take every day?

Karen: I wasn’t working for TVP when Evie trained to become an officer, but I was immensely proud to watch her progress through her training and then take on active duty. I saw the advert for the Control Room role on Facebook and asked Evie if she’d mind me applying!

It can be hard knowing she’ll be responding to the types of calls I take, wondering whether she’ll be safe and okay, but I know she’s more than capable of looking after herself, and her colleagues will always be there to support her. I’ll admit, I do sometimes check where she is, what she’s doing, and what kind of jobs she’s responding to!

What inspired you to join as an officer, and how did your mum’s role in the control room influence you?

Evie: I have been a police officer for almost four years, and it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was very young. I remember always seeing the same PCSO patrolling the area where I lived. I didn’t know what a PCSO was at that age, but he became one of the main reasons I wanted to join.
From then on, policing was all I wanted to do. My mum supported me through the recruitment process, and I’ve always loved the fact that every day in this job is different and that I have the chance to make a difference to people’s lives.
I remember when my mum first mentioned the opportunity to apply for a role in the control room. We’ve always been close, and the thought of working together genuinely excited me. Since she started her role, we’ve become closer than ever. We work side by side, and it’s amazing having someone you trust there to support you when you need it. I hope we get to work many more years together.

Do you feel like being at opposite ends of the same 999 call gives you a special connection?

Evie: We understand each other’s roles and the responsibilities that come with them. I joined TVP first, and my mum followed a few years later. Since she joined, she’s gained a much deeper understanding of the world of policing and what officers face day to day.
Karen: We both feel our relationship has grown even stronger, and working within the same organisation gives us a special connection.

Do you share advice about staying calm under pressure – who takes whose advice?

Evie: Although we work for the same organisation, we both have completely different roles. We each have our own ways of working and our own teams to turn to if we ever need advice. It’s nice to sit down together sometimes, talk about our day, and reflect on what we’ve done. When we’ve been involved in the same job, it’s interesting to see the roles we’ve each played and how different those experiences can be.

Have you had any moments where your roles unexpectedly crossed paths?

Karen: Our roles cross paths quite often, so it’s never unexpected. Sometimes it can feel daunting for me when Evie is deployed to incidents involving risk or dangerous offenders. I know Evie’s team support her and each other, and she has complete faith in them to keep her and her colleagues safe.

What does having support at home from someone who fully understands the job mean to you?

Eive: Support at home is massive for both of us. Sometimes we’re involved in incidents where the outcome isn’t always positive, and that can have a real impact on people’s health and wellbeing. The support we get from each other, and from our teams, is absolutely vital. We understand each other’s roles and the challenges that can come with them.

How would you like to spend Mother’s Day this year?

Karen: We’re spending Mother’s Day working together this year. I’d love to be at a spa relaxing, but instead I’ll be embracing the peaceful and calming atmosphere of the control room!

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This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate the love, strength, and support of all the mums who make a difference at home and in uniform. At TVP, we are always looking for people to be the difference they want to see in their communities.

To find out more about a policing career with TVP, please visit our TVP Careers Website