Following Mum Into the Blue: Maureen and Darcey’s Story

This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating Maureen and Darcey,  a detective mum and response officer daughter connected by a bond that has only grown stronger as they’ve found themselves working within the same policing family. Their journeys into the job were different, but deeply connected through shared values, quiet admiration and the emotional reality of watching someone you love step into a world you know all too well.
In this blog, we spoke to Detective Maureen and PC Darcey about what it means to protect the same communities from such different corners of policing.

What was it like watching your daughter join the police, knowing the realities of the job from your experience as a detective?

Maureen: I was apprehensive about Darcey joining the police. My role as her mother is to protect her and keep her from harm. I’ve had colleagues injured in the line of duty, and I didn’t want this to happen to her. It gave me some sleepless nights. I’ve seen some horrendous scenes, some of which do leave a lasting effect on you. However, I was so proud when she passed out, and she continues to impress me with her stamina, resilience and her positive attitude.

What inspired you to join policing, and how did having a detective mum influence that?

Darcey: I have always been interested in policing. Having previously always worked roles within hospitality, making the move to policing was definitely something that was out of my comfort zone. My mum joined the police after working an office role for many years, and has always spoken positively of her job and has never looked back. I studied Criminology at the university, which further increased my interest in joining, and I am glad I did.

Do you feel your roles give you a unique bond, especially with one in investigations and one in response?

Maureen: I think so. Darcey would be my go‑to for anything Incident Crime Response (ICR), the current procedures, etc. She is also a good investigator, and I initially thought she would go down that route; however, she still enjoys her role, and she has plenty of time to make her career choice going forward.
Darcey: Definitely. The job is challenging and every day is a school day; you are always asking questions and sharing knowledge with colleagues, and Mum is great for any paperwork advice with her level of experience as a detective.

Do you ever give each other advice about work, and who tends to listen more?

Maureen: We do. Darcey had a job recently which involved indecent images of children, and the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) is the department I work in, so I was able to offer advice and support in relation to viewing the images (which I helped categorise) and preparing the file. I haven’t been on ICR since 2012, so it’s interesting to hear about the jobs she goes to and that actually, things haven’t changed much. Darcey definitely listens more.
Darcey: As I mentioned before, I tend to go to Mum for paperwork advice, as due to the level of experience and the jobs she goes to, she has a wealth of knowledge which helps me in my investigations.

Can you share a funny or light-hearted moment connected to your work journeys?

Darcey: When Mum found out what team I was joining at the station we both worked at, she stormed into the office to announce that she was my mother and that I was joining their team. I’m not sure if this was more funny or embarrassing at the time!
We don’t work at the same stations anymore, but when we did, Mum would bring me coffee and lunch when I was too busy to get my own, which was always a nice surprise.

How important is family support when the job gets tough?

Maureen: Very important, and it helps that we are both in the police and understand the trauma that we suffer on occasions whilst doing the job. Always good to talk through a traumatic incident, rather than keeping it to yourself.

Darcey: I would agree. Having a family member who can relate to the incidents you attend makes it a bit easier to process things sometimes. You don’t always want to weigh other people down with some of the things we deal with if they aren’t in the police, as some jobs we attend are quite challenging.

How do you hope to spend Mother’s Day this year?

We are spending the weekend in Cardiff for the Six Nations Wales vs Italy game, and a meal out with family.

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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