From Private Sector to Police Leadership: Michelle’s Journey

Policing wasn’t part of Michelle’s original career plan, but nearly 11 years after joining Thames Valley Police, she’s now our Head of Corporate Communications and a member of the Chief Officer Group. In this blog, she shares her journey from the private sector to policing, the moments that defined her path, and how she’s using her position to inspire change, support others, and help rebuild trust in the service, particularly for those from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Michelle Campbell 

Current role: Director of Corporate Communications

Age at joining: 33

Length of Service: 11 years

Role: I joined TVP in 2014 in a senior management role within the Corporate Communications department and progressed to Deputy Head of Corporate Communications in the summer of 2018. In May 2020, I successfully secured my current role as Head of Corporate Communications, which has developed into my current role of Director of Corporate Communications.

As head of profession, I not only lead a key enabling department for the force, but I also sit as a member of our Chief Officer Group, which allows me to make greater strategic contributions beyond my profession. Working alongside our executive leaders, I am actively involved in the decision-making process of our force, as well as providing strategic communications advice on organisational and operational issues and incidents of all kinds.

Tell us a bit about your background (e.g. studies, work experience, family) & what attracted you to policing? 

It was never part of my career plan to work in policing! I began my career in the private sector, working in marketing communications agencies, where I planned and executed communication campaigns and negotiated media placements for numerous large blue-chip companies operating across various sectors.

Six years in, I realised that something wasn’t fulfilling me, and on reflection, the industry didn’t align well with my personal values. So, I embarked on a career within the public sector communications working across local government, public health, and now policing. A move to Oxfordshire in 2013 prompted me to look for new opportunities. I saw a role at Thames Valley Police, thought let’s give policing a go, and joined in 2014 as Media Relations Manager, and nearly 11 years later, I am still there!

Did your friends and family support your decision to join the police?

My parents have always been supportive of me and my career choices. However, my wider family and friends have mixed views of policing, some of which formed from their lived experiences.

In policing, I have met some extraordinary people, people who go the extra mile for others, putting service before self, who courageously take on challenges when others would shy away, all to protect our communities.

That said, I recognise where we need to improve and am committed to challenging the negative behaviours that do not align with our values, and in pushing us to be better.

I hope that through my experience of policing, I have been able to share an honest but informed view of policing, our tactics and outcomes, alongside what we are doing to improve our service. I hope that through this, I have helped change their mindsets and build/rebuild their trust in the service.

Have you felt supported in our force? 

Yes. My roles within the force have meant I act as a strategic communications advisor to our Chief Constable, Chief Officers, Gold Commanders, and Senior Responsible Officers, and as such, I have had much support and encouragement to progress in my career.

There have been many people who have been influential in my development, including former Chief Constable John Campbell. In my first month in policing, I found myself working on a major incident following mass flooding across the Thames Valley; John was the Strategic Commander, and he showed incredible kindness, taking time out to make me a coffee and explain what I needed to know about the complex multi-agency operating landscape, and what he needed from me.

Soon after, he became my first ever mentor and helped me quickly develop my operational competence. More recently, Amanda Cooper, a former Assistant Chief Officer – Director of Information, helped me develop my confidence as I stepped up into my current role working as part of our Chief Officer Group.

Having benefited from this type of support, I understand how important senior sponsorship is. I now find myself as the most senior ethnically diverse woman in our force and as such recognise my role in showcasing diversity, inspiring and supporting people, especially women and those from ethnically diverse backgrounds. I invest time mentoring, coaching, and supporting colleagues across our force and the wider police service. This is one of the reasons why I have got involved in the work of National Women of Colour in Policing. In doing this, I want to continue to help others grow within policing as I have.

Most recently, I was supported to apply for the College of Policing Executive Leadership Programme. I’ve since completed the programme and graduated alongside a number of other Women of Colour in Policing – a real reflection of the progress being made.

Best moments of your career within TVP? 

Police communications has provided me the opportunity to work on events of national and international significance. Amongst my career highlights is the significant part that my department and I played in the policing operations for the Coronation of Their Royal Highnesses King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth III, the state funeral of The Duke of Edinburgh, and the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Our security-minded communication approach, which is underpinned by behavioural science and aims to deter crime and disorder, is cited as best practice for large-scale event planning. As a result, we now share this approach nationally with police communicators, security coordinators, and the wider protective security industry.

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

I hope that the best form of advice I can offer is to share my honest experience. Working in policing is by far the most challenging but rewarding job I have ever had. I am proud to work in policing, of the work that my department delivers to protect our communities, and of my contribution as a senior leader. Above all, I am proud of policing and the positive difference it can make.

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

Yes, absolutely!

On a daily basis, I see the commitment of leaders and colleagues across our force in driving positive change so that we can deliver a policing service that we and our communities can also be proud of.