In this powerful episode, Paul speaks with retired police officer Colin Dixon, who shares the reality of nearly 30 years on the frontline—both the highs of the job and the devastating personal toll it can take.

From joining the police in 1990 with no qualifications, to working major investigations, drug operations, and proactive policing roles, Colin built a career defined by determination, instinct, and experience.

But behind the commendations and successes was a very different story.

Colin opens up about:

• The realities of frontline policing in the 90s vs today
• Major investigations and proactive policing work
• The importance of “the devil in the detail” in catching offenders
• Workplace conflict, bullying, and feeling targeted within the job
• The impact of stress, depression, and reaching breaking point
• Hitting rock bottom and the moment that changed everything
• Rebuilding himself and finishing his career with pride

This is an honest and raw account of policing—showing both the purpose it gives and the pressure it creates.

Colin’s story highlights an uncomfortable truth: sometimes the biggest battles officers face aren’t on the streets… but within the job itself.

Colin's book, Out of the Storm available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUT-STORM-JOURNEY-Veteran-Officers/dp/B09L3R79VB

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of mental health, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a trusted person or professional service.

🎧 Listen now to hear a story of resilience, experience, and survival against the odds.

Who would you like to see on the podcast? Send us suggestions!

Download the Pocket Sergeant app today

Purchase Sh*t Magnet: A Frontline Officer's Stories Of Madness And Mayhem

Purchase From Trauma To Triumph - The Pocket Sergeant Journey

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Paul speaks with former police officer Vicki, who shares her harrowing experience of abuse, survival, and what happened when she turned to the very system she once served.

After meeting a man on a dating app, what began as a relationship quickly spiralled into control, violence, and sexual abuse. Despite gathering the courage to report what had happened, Vicki’s case was never even passed to the CPS. Instead, she found herself facing disbelief, inaction, and a system that left her feeling abandoned.

This episode explores:

• The reality of coercive control and abusive relationships
• The psychological toll of trauma and isolation
• Failures in the police response to domestic and sexual abuse
• What happens when a police officer becomes the victim
• The fight for accountability and change

Vicki speaks openly about the impact on her mental health, her family, and her career—ultimately leading to her leaving the police after 17 years of service.

This is not just one woman’s story. It raises serious questions about trust, accountability, and whether the system is equipped to deal with cases like this—especially when it involves one of their own.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of rape, sexual assault, domestic abuse, and trauma.

If you or someone you know is affected by issues raised in this episode, please seek support from a trusted person or a specialist organisation.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.

Who would you like to see on the podcast? Send us suggestions!

Download the Pocket Sergeant app today

Purchase Sh*t Magnet: A Frontline Officer's Stories Of Madness And Mayhem

Purchase From Trauma To Triumph - The Pocket Sergeant Journey

In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, former custody sergeant Lee Jones shares his experience of being criminally charged following a use of force incident in custody.

Lee describes the events of that day, the split-second decision he made while dealing with a highly volatile detainee, and how the situation escalated into a full criminal investigation. Despite no injury being caused and no formal complaint being made, Lee was charged with common assault.

What followed was months on bail, repeated appeals, and a misconduct process that had a profound impact on his mental health and family life. The criminal case was ultimately dropped, and he was later found to have no case to answer at gross misconduct.

This conversation explores:

• Use of force in custody
• Professional Standards investigations
• The impact of prolonged investigations on officers
• Opposing charges and CPS decisions
• The psychological toll of being accused
• Life after policing

Lee also discusses writing his book The Other Side of Police Corruption, where he documents the full experience and reflects on what he believes needs to change within the system.

This episode offers a candid insight into what it feels like to be on the other side of an investigation — and the long-term consequences that can follow.

Link to Lee's book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Side-Police-Corruption/dp/B0DHK3S5KX

Who would you like to see on the podcast? Send us suggestions!

Download the Pocket Sergeant app today

Purchase Sh*t Magnet: A Frontline Officer's Stories Of Madness And Mayhem

Purchase From Trauma To Triumph - The Pocket Sergeant Journey

Jeanette was nine years old when her mum died of cancer.
Her father struggled with alcoholism.
Police cars regularly stopped outside her home.

As a child, she would dial 999 when things spiralled.

Years later… she became the officer responding to calls like her own.

In this powerful episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, Jeanette takes us on a journey that is as raw as it is inspiring.

We talk about:

▪ Growing up in a household affected by domestic abuse and addiction
▪ Being split from her siblings after her mum’s death
▪ Leaving home at 16 to survive on her own
▪ Joining the police as a Special — and choosing to serve at the very station that once protected her
▪ The brutal reality of response policing
▪ The night a suspect stopped mid-chase, turned around, and pushed her down a railway embankment
▪ Working organised immigration crime, sham marriages, and trafficking networks
▪ Why she left policing to study law
▪ Winning £5,000 on an ITV game show to fund her Bar course
▪ Juggling childcare while studying full-time
▪ Moving to London and missing her child’s birthday to complete pupillage
▪ The truth about criminal barrister pay (the numbers will shock you)
▪ The backlog crisis in the courts
▪ Why jury trials are under threat
▪ Judicial bullying and elitism at the Bar
▪ Whether AI could ever replace judges

This episode pulls back the curtain on both sides of the criminal justice system — from police uniform to wig and gown.

If you work in policing, law, or care about the justice system — this conversation is essential.

Who would you like to see on the podcast? Send us suggestions!

Download the Pocket Sergeant app today

Purchase Sh*t Magnet: A Frontline Officer's Stories Of Madness And Mayhem

Purchase From Trauma To Triumph - The Pocket Sergeant Journey

In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, I speak with Michelle Websdale about the life and death of her former partner, Ben — a police custody sergeant who served for 24 years.

Michelle shares who Ben was as a man, a father and a colleague, before discussing the events that followed his arrest by Professional Standards and the impact the investigation had on his mental health. She speaks openly about the inquest, the support (and lack of support) provided, and the wider questions this raises about police welfare and internal investigations.

This is an honest and emotional conversation about policing, accountability, mental health and the human cost when systems fail.

If you work in policing or have experienced similar challenges, this episode may resonate with you.

If you are struggling, please seek support. You are not alone.

Who would you like to see on the podcast? Send us suggestions!

Download the Pocket Sergeant app today

Purchase Sh*t Magnet: A Frontline Officer's Stories Of Madness And Mayhem

Purchase From Trauma To Triumph - The Pocket Sergeant Journey

In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, I’m joined by Ryan MacDonald — former police officer, military veteran, author of Blue Lights, Dark Mind, and a powerful voice on trauma and recovery after service.

Ryan served for nearly 30 years across policing and the military, including counter-terrorism, intelligence, custody, leadership roles, and operational tours overseas. But this conversation isn’t about rank or war stories.

It’s about what happens when the uniform comes off.

🎙️ In this episode, we talk openly about:

The cumulative trauma of policing

PTSD and intrusive thoughts

Why officers struggle to ask for help

The moment everything nearly collapsed

How policing culture deals with mental health

Life after service, recovery, and rebuilding

This is an honest, raw, and important conversation about the realities of policing that are rarely spoken about publicly.

If you’re serving, have served, or support someone who does — this episode will resonate.

Ryan's Book: Blue Lights Dark Mind

Who would you like to see on the podcast? Send us suggestions!

Download the Pocket Sergeant app today

Purchase Sh*t Magnet: A Frontline Officer's Stories Of Madness And Mayhem

Purchase From Trauma To Triumph - The Pocket Sergeant Journey

In this episode of the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, Paul Cooper is joined by Colin Sutton — one of the UK’s most respected former Senior Investigating Officers.

Colin led some of Britain’s most complex and high-profile murder investigations, including the case that finally brought Levi Bellfield to justice — without relying on forensic evidence.

This is a deep, intelligent conversation about how real murder investigations are solved, the mistakes people make when relying on checklists, and why good policing depends on thinking, judgement, and leadership — not box-ticking.

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

How Colin rose rapidly through the Met Police

Leading murder investigations under intense pressure

The Levi Bellfield case and building a conviction through circumstantial evidence

Why “thinking outside the box” matters more than procedure

What great detectives do differently

Policing leadership, officer welfare, and cultural change

Life after policing: books, TV, and theatre tours

This episode is essential viewing for:

Police officers and detectives

True crime fans who want depth, not drama

Anyone interested in leadership, decision-making, and justice

If you’re tired of sensationalism and want to understand how serious investigations actually work, this conversation delivers.

Who would you like to see on the podcast? Send us suggestions!

Download the Pocket Sergeant app today

Purchase Sh*t Magnet: A Frontline Officer's Stories Of Madness And Mayhem

Purchase From Trauma To Triumph - The Pocket Sergeant Journey

Former Detective Darren Ryan joins the Pocket Sergeant Podcast to reveal the psychological cost of investigating some of the most serious crimes in policing.

For years, Darren worked high-risk safeguarding and exploitation cases. He protected vulnerable victims and carried the responsibility that comes with child protection investigations.

But repeated exposure to trauma doesn’t just disappear when the shift ends.

In this episode, Darren speaks openly about:

• The cumulative impact of investigating child abuse
• How trauma can surface years later
• Hypervigilance, sleep disruption and intrusive memories
• The warning signs many officers ignore
• Alcohol as a coping mechanism
• Ill-health retirement and the battle that followed
• Rebuilding identity after losing the uniform
• Why mental health support in policing must change

This isn’t about weakness.
It’s about being human.

Email Darren: darren.ryan@lifelinecoachingandmentoring.com

Instagram: @lifelinecoachingandmentoring

Darren now runs Lifeline Coaching & Mentoring, helping others navigate trauma, career transition and recovery.

He is also the author of LIFELINE: HOW A FORMER DETECTIVE SURVIVED PTSD AND HOW YOU CAN TOO

If you work in policing, emergency services, safeguarding, military — or support someone who does — this conversation matters.

Who would you like to see on the podcast? Send us suggestions!

Download the Pocket Sergeant app today

Purchase Sh*t Magnet: A Frontline Officer's Stories Of Madness And Mayhem

Purchase From Trauma To Triumph - The Pocket Sergeant Journey