Serving With Heart: A Mother & Daughter Journey

Mother’s Day is a celebration of the women who lift us, guide us, and shape who we become, and for Special Sergeant Bik and her daughter, PC Talia, that bond runs deeply through both family life and policing. For this Mother’s Day blog, we sat down with Bik and Talia as they reflected on the moments that shaped them, the pride they feel watching each other grow, and the one‑of‑a‑kind connection that comes from being a mother and daughter wearing the same uniform.

What was it like watching your daughter join the police?

Bik: Honestly? Mind‑blowing. Watching my once‑shy little girl grow into a confident, capable, respected police officer has been one of the proudest moments of my life. She worked from a young age, which taught her how to deal with the public, work hard, and understand that not everything magically falls into your lap. I always encouraged her to be herself rather than follow the crowd, and that strength of character really shines through in her policing. She’s compassionate, empathetic, and has the kind of work ethic you can only hope for in your kids.

To put it simply: she has achieved so much already, and somehow continues to level up. I am unbelievably proud of her, and so blessed to call her my daughter.

What inspired you to join the police, and how did your mum’s being a Special Constable influence you?

Talia: I always loved animals as a child, and growing up, mum used to call me “Dr Dolittle” or “The Animal Whisperer,” and still does. She bought me a dog-breed book, which I cherished, and I would read it cover to cover multiple times. She also used to call me “Babs” – short for Barbara Woodhouse!

Then, at secondary school, I realised I wanted to join the police. So I went to college to study Public Services… but I still end up working with animals at times anyway. Because West Berkshire is so rural, I’ve become the unofficial “Animal Whisperer” on shift. If it’s got hooves, horns, feathers, or a questionable attitude, I’m always the first to call up. Cows blocking the road? I’m there. Deer playing chicken with traffic? That’s me. Sheep escaping for a quick adventure? Still me. Horses that definitely know they’re bigger than me? Also me.

One of my early jobs was working at Sully’s canteen while I was studying Public Services at college. Being around officers in training, hearing their stories, and watching the buzz of the job was great to experience.

I have enjoyed watching Mum volunteer as a Special Constable – seeing her passion for the community and making a difference showed me what policing could mean, not just what it looked like.

Does serving the community in different roles give you a special connection?

We already have a strong bond (we’re a mum‑and‑daughter duo, after all), but serving our community through TVP adds a whole new level. Whether we’re swapping stories after a shift, comparing notes from training, or just laughing about the madness of the day, policing gives us this unique understanding of each other’s world.

We both insist the other one is the inspiring one… so we may never settle that debate!

Do you give each other work advice? Who listens more?

Oh, we both talk. And we both listen. It’s basically our superpower.

Because we both understand the job from the inside, we don’t have to explain the context behind every story – we just get it. There’s a lot of bouncing off each other and stories to share.

Bik: Growing up, I was obviously the one in charge and full of all the wisdom… but in policing? Talia absolutely blows me away. She’s professional, knowledgeable, and I never hesitate to take her advice. I’m incredibly proud of her.

Any funny or memorable moments from your policing journeys?

Oh, plenty.

We’re based at different stations – I’m in Reading, Talia in Newbury, but now that we’re part of the same LCU, we cross paths more often.

The first time we crewed together, Talia had a minor identity crisis: “What if I call you Mum at a job?”

So she played it safe and called me Sarge instead! That was weird for both of us.

Another time, I was on shift and heard things kicking off over the radio in Newbury. Like any mum would, I waited for a quiet moment, and then P2P’d her saying, “It’s Mummy.” Nothing says welfare check quite like that message popping up.

We’re also both on Life360, and yes, we absolutely check on each other. Not to be nosey (or so we claim), but because it’s reassuring to know the other one’s okay. Silent stalking for wholesome reasons.

What does family support mean in a demanding job like policing?

Everything. Truly.

Policing comes with highs, but it also comes with some heavy moments. Being able to talk to each other – really talk – is the anchor that keeps us steady. We’ve had hours‑long phone calls about tough shifts, weird shifts, funny shifts, and everything in between, which includes our animals.

Talia’s shifts are all over the place, so yes… we do check our duty system to figure out when we can actually see each other. If we didn’t put the effort in, we wouldn’t get to spend any time together

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

We’re hoping to spend some time together during the day, before Talia heads off for a late shift (because policing doesn’t care about sentimental occasions!).

We’ve missed birthdays and celebrations over the years, but we don’t take it personally. We celebrate when we can and make those moments count.

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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. We are actively 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