Mum on the beat: Inspector Maria Perrin

This Mother's Day we wanted to shine a light on some of our local leaders who use motherhood as a strength in their policing role. Earlier this week, we sat down with local neighbourhood Inspector Maria Perrin to ask her about her policing career and how becoming a mum made her a better leader. 

Why did you become a police officer?  

Maria - I was 24 years old, working in a role where I was required to work with police officers and at this time, I had the opportunity to learn more about the police service.  I remember being inspired by the career progression opportunities and was intrigued by the role of an officer. I felt confident that I had the transferable skills required to be an officer and help members of the public.

My mum has always been my biggest supporter in anything that I do, I'm really lucky! She is an inspiration and is the reason I am so tenacious, dedicated and passionate. When I told her I was applying to be a police officer she was incredibly supportive and today, she is proud of all I have achieved.

Over 20 years later, I am an inspector for Coventry city centre and would not change it.
 

What has motherhood taught you about yourself? 

Maria - Being a mother, has made me a resilient and empathetic Inspector when working with the public and my teams. I understand the pressures faced by parents and have used this perspective in showing support and flexibility towards my officers and staff.  

How do you manage the work/life balance now being a mum? 

Maria - It has not been easy. I am dedicated to doing a good job and I am passionate about helping others. As a result, I often work longer hours than scheduled. Despite this, I make efforts to ensure I have quality time with my family.

 

My daughter was born at 25 weeks' gestation weighing only 1.7lbs, so I know how lucky I am and this is why I regularly remind myself of why I work as I hard as I do, to provide for my family. 

How has West Midlands Police supported you transitioning to parenthood? 

Maria - I am afforded flexibility and time to ensure I can be an active and involved parent which can include attendance at celebration assemblies, parent’s evenings and medical appointments.  Often, I am successful in taking time off during school holidays which reduces the need for childcare and the financial burden on my family. 

Also, the force has been supportive with policy changes to ensure parents taking time off due to their newborn baby being born and requiring hospital care, are paid full pay rather than statutory neonatal leave pay. This is significant in supporting parents at a time of difficulty and ensures parents are afforded their full maternity period after they leave hospital. 

What would you say to any women thinking about a career in policing?
 
Maria - As a Women in Policing* member, a policing inspector and with over 20 years’ service, I am proud to be a female leader in the organisation. With women accounting for over a third of officers, the police service is recognised as an inclusive employer and employee of choice. 

My advice would be to speak to our police officers who can talk about their personal experiences. Our Recruitment and Outreach team are on hand to guide you through the process and talk to you about our flexible family friendly policies that had been adapted to support parents in the organisation. There's also a lot of information on our website.

Ending violence against women and girls is just one priority where I would love to see more women working together. With female officers working to change stereotypes, increasing the number of women in the service can only help. Yes, the job is hard work, but there is no doubt the job satisfaction can be huge. 

Finally, has your daughter expressed an interest in joining the police?
 
Maria - My daughter is now five years-old so and the age where she wants to be everything. After visiting me at one of our police stations, she has said she would like to be a police officer, but she changes her mind every day, so who knows? 

I am incredibly proud of her and will support her no matter if she becomes a police officer or not. 

This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate the love, strength, and support for all the mums who are making a difference at home and on the frontline. 

 

West Midlands Police is actively looking for people to be the difference they want to see in their communities.   

 

Head to our careers page to find out more about our police officer roles, apprenticeships, and volunteering positions.