Pocket Sergeant

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[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

The failure to reach a verdict in this case raises difficult questions about public confidence in policing and the relationship between the police and the communities they serve.

There was once a time when police officers were broadly respected as authority figures trying to protect the public. Today, officers can face extreme violence and serious injury simply for carrying out their duties.

Regardless of people’s views on policing, no officer should go to work expecting to be assaulted while protecting the public.

[Julia Hartley-Brewer @JuliaHB1]

Are the jury blind?

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

A lot has happened in policing recently, some of which has made me stop and rethink the direction of the podcast and where we go next.

When I first started the podcast, the aim was to give people a voice. That hasn’t changed but I remain more concerned than ever about what we are seeing in policing.

The misuse of PSD practices, actions that feel disproportionate and heavy-handed approaches that are impacting good officers. In some cases, people aren’t just losing their jobs… they’re losing their lives.

I have found the last month extremely difficult and will be taking a short break to reflect and reset.

I’ll be back to record one more episode this season with a Chief Constable which feels like an important one to end on. This will likely be recorded in a few weeks time.

After that, we’ll end Season 2.

Behind the scenes, I’m working on a number of things around police wellbeing which I hope to share more about soon.

We will be heard.

As always, I appreciate your continued support.

- Paul

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

‘I Should Have Been There’ is out now and available on all audio platforms and YouTube.

Spotify: https://t.co/Z1N8Ng07fH

Apple Music: https://t.co/EMQBPlEPN9

YouTube: https://t.co/uqdKJxJWvl

Amazon Music: https://t.co/IFNilVWuh8

The song is a reminder to check in on friends, family and colleagues. Even if they say they’re okay despite them going through an awful time, keep checking in.

If you’re struggling, please speak to someone.

This one’s for Jon.

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

Hi all, I’ve had a few messages asking how the song I used in Jon Ezard’s montage can be downloaded, streamed or shared. I’ve decided to release it across all audio platforms this Monday so anyone who wants to can listen and share it.

You can pre save it here on Spotify:

https://t.co/VWLlC8ehOx

The day the single goes live, it'll automatically be added to your Spotify.

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

Please consider supporting Jon Ezard’s crowdfunder and help push it past the £20,000 mark. Every contribution however big or small makes a difference.

But just as important… check in on your friends, family and colleagues.

If someone’s going through a tough time, don’t just ask once. Even if they say they’re okay, check again…. and again.

A quick message or call matters more than you think.

https://t.co/zrrUW5OphW

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

Please consider supporting Jon Ezard’s crowdfunder and help push it past the £20,000 mark. Every contribution however big or small makes a difference.

But just as important… check in on your friends, family and colleagues.

If someone’s going through a tough time, don’t just ask once. Even if they say they’re okay, check again…. and again.

A quick message or call matters more than you think.

https://t.co/zrrUW5OphW

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

I am recording a Pocket Sergeant Podcast episode with a Chief Constable…and they’ve said:

‘No question is off-limits.’

So this is your chance.

What do you want answers to?
What needs saying?
What should be challenged?

Drop your questions in the comments below and please keep it respectful.

They’re giving up their time to take on some tough questions and discuss difficult topics, which isn’t something that happens often.

These opportunities don’t come around often!

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

Yesterday I caught up with Michelle Websdale the ex-wife of Ben, whose story many will have seen shared across the media and someone who has been fighting tirelessly for change around police suicide, prevention and officer welfare.

As Michelle says, recording officer suicides is a step… but it’s not the solution.

We shouldn’t be waiting until it’s too late and then documenting it. We should be asking what’s being done to stop it happening in the first place.

https://t.co/W9bK6mOLVQ

[Lee Broadbent @leembroad]

The federation, in putting forward its legal case resisting the #BreakTheMonopoly judicial review, submitted evidence supporting the current restrictions and arguments as to why the status quo, including restrictions on other employment rights like industrial action/withholding labour, would fundamentally alter the office of Constable and the operational neutrality of policing.

In short, to try and save itself, it once again sold its membership out.

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

Today I’ve seen countless posts across social media almost celebrating the fact that police suicides will now be officially recorded.

Some people will say this is a step forward but recording deaths is NOT prevention.

Do we really need more data to tell us there’s a problem? We already know there is one.

In fact, policing could massively reduce if not stop these tragedies tomorrow if it had the will to confront what’s actually going on.

How many more officers need to die before we move beyond ‘recording’ and actually start fixing the root cause?

The issue is already widely known.

And yet, time and time again, we hear the same responses from leadership:

‘It’s not in our remit’
‘We’re under instructions to do this…’
‘Our hands are tied’

Meanwhile, our cops are being pushed to breaking point, often by the systems that are supposed to support them.

At what point do the we stop kicking the can down the road and start making decisions that actually save lives?

Simply recording the lives lost, is not enough.

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

On 6th September 2025, I sent Jon a message just to say he could call me anytime. Even if it was just for a chat, or to meet halfway for a coffee. I knew how tough misconduct investigations and hearings can be on an officer’s mental health. He told me he was okay. We remained in touch regularly after that.

We lost Jon on 31st March 2026.

If you know anyone going through the misconduct process, or someone who’s been pushed to resign, please check in on them. Don’t just do it once - keep checking in.

A fundraiser has been set up to support Jon’s wife Lauren and their two young daughters, Isabella and Francesca. We’ve made a donation and if you’re able to give anything at all, I know it would mean a lot.

https://t.co/XWNPOLgye5

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

Following the devastating news of losing Jon Ezard, I immediately wrote to the @ukhomeoffice, the @CollegeofPolice @Jonathan_Hinder and @JonathanBrash. Today, I have also sent a formal letter to Home Secretary @ShabanaMahmood.

I am calling for a face-to-face meeting and I want to bring with me the families of police officers who felt so trapped and unsupported that they took their own lives.

These are real people, real families and real lives that have been torn apart while policing ‘leaders’ watch on.

Government representatives need to hear directly from the partners and children left behind and those living with the consequences of these failures.

But this is also about change.

If these meetings are refused, we will take a stronger stance and explore other avenues to ensure this cannot be ignored. For that, I will need the support of the wider police family and the public who stand behind them.

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

@toniwriter VAWG is important, as I discussed with Maggie Oliver on the podcast.

When it is used to weaponise a workforce, such as police officers - it takes away completely from what the VAWG strategy was for.

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

Heartbroken is an understatement.

I started speaking to Jon in May 2025, and we stayed in regular contact ever since. He reached out because he was facing the uncertainty of leaving the police after securing another job - the fear of stepping into the unknown. And then there was the misconduct hearing. Jon expressed concerns how he was being purposely discredited and misquoted. This was clear when he shared some of the disclosure prior to the misconduct hearing.

Clearly, taking a person’s career isn’t enough.

In my view, the Violence Against Women and Girls agenda, alongside the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics, is being weaponised against officers.

Policing is not only hitting the self-destruct button time and time again, but continues to play ‘God’ with current and former officers’ lives and their families.

They continue to erode public trust in policing and are contributing to officers feeling so trapped that they are taking their own lives. They also wonder why they struggle to retain officers in what used to be a ‘Job for life’.

How do we get those in positions of power to actually listen and change this? How can they return home to their own families in good conscience, knowing their actions (or lack of them) may have contributed to another death within the police family?

This has got to stop.

My thoughts are with Jon’s family and friends.

Paul.

https://t.co/ZeJrsiRGEy

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

Gutted to read this @Brick_Cop. Keep banging the drum for policing.

You’re a good egg.

Once a cop. Always a cop.

[Brick Cop©️ @Brick_Cop]

And just like that, 12 years, 2 medals, a whole bunch of memories and wonderful friends later; I’m done.

Policing you were my childhood dream.

I’m so proud to have been one of you and do my small bit.

You’ll always be part of me, but time to live and move on. #ThinBlueLine 🚨

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

Since relaunching the new version of the AI Assistant, you have been hammering it!

However, behind the scenes we are currently testing, refining, and pushing it to make sure it delivers real value.

As part of that, we’re now making further improvements and carrying out some essential maintenance.

🚧 The Interview Plan feature is currently unavailable while we make these changes / upgrades.

The good news - this is only temporary. We expect it to be back up and running by end of the day Friday.

⚠️ A quick heads up: if you’re experiencing a blank screen when opening the assistant, the only current fix is to reinstall the app. We know that’s not ideal, and we’re actively working on resolving this properly.

We’ll keep you updated as we roll out fixes and improvements.

Appreciate your patience while we make it better!

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with @colinsutton for the Pocket Sergeant Podcast. This episode is live now on our YouTube channel.

Colin is one of the UK’s most respected former Senior Investigating Officers, having led some of the most complex murder investigations in modern British policing. Most notably, he led the investigation that finally brought Levi Bellfield to justice - a conviction secured without relying on forensic evidence, built instead through careful thinking, leadership, and relentless investigative work.

What I really enjoyed about this conversation was Colin’s honesty.

In the episode we discuss:

• Colin’s rapid rise through the Met Police

• Leading murder investigations under intense pressure

• The Levi Bellfield investigation and building a case through circumstantial evidence

• Why good detectives must think beyond procedure

• What separates great investigators from the rest

• Leadership, officer welfare, and cultural change in policing

• Life after policing: including books, TV, and theatre tours

https://t.co/JlJkJcawZe

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with @colinsutton for the Pocket Sergeant Podcast. This episode is live now on our YouTube channel.

Colin is one of the UK’s most respected former Senior Investigating Officers, having led some of the most complex murder investigations in modern British policing. Most notably, he led the investigation that finally brought Levi Bellfield to justice - a conviction secured without relying on forensic evidence, built instead through careful thinking, leadership, and relentless investigative work.

What I really enjoyed about this conversation was Colin’s honesty.

In the episode we discuss:

• Colin’s rapid rise through the Met Police

• Leading murder investigations under intense pressure

• The Levi Bellfield investigation and building a case through circumstantial evidence

• Why good detectives must think beyond procedure

• What separates great investigators from the rest

• Leadership, officer welfare, and cultural change in policing

• Life after policing: including books, TV, and theatre tours

https://t.co/JlJkJcawZe

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

👀 Look what’s back…

The Pocket Sergeant AI Assistant has returned! You’ll need to ensure you have the latest app build from the stores.

We’ve made significant improvements to the user interface, making it easier and quicker to use while you’re on shift. The experience should now feel much smoother when asking questions or searching for guidance.

We’re still working hard behind the scenes, continuing to improve the system at the back end, so there are more upgrades and refinements to come.

If you haven’t tried it yet, jump back in and give it a go and as always, your feedback helps us make it even better.

[Pocket Sergeant @PocketSergeant]

Over the past few months of recording the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, one thing has really stood out.

How powerful it is when people (especially men) feel able to speak openly about their mental health and wellbeing.

Policing has always had a culture where you’re expected to just get on with it. Put the uniform on, do the job, and move on to the next incident.

What has been refreshing during these episodes is the honesty and depth guests have brought to the table. We’ve talked about trauma, burnout, investigations, the pressures of the job, and the toll it can take on relationships, identity and self-worth.

My latest guest, Darren Ryan, was no exception.

Darren shared an unbelievable story about his experiences hunting online predators and the psychological impact that work had on him over time.

Within just a couple of hours of the episode going live, I was contacted by a former cop who said parts of Darren’s story deeply resonated with them.

When people speak openly about their struggles, it gives others permission to do the same.

If even one person feels less alone because of these podcast episodes, then it is doing exactly what it set out to do.

Podcast episode with Darren is here:

https://t.co/KsbXw7oeub