Detective Chief Inspector Amerjit Singh

When I left school I got many jobs within the insurance and legal sector but never felt fulfilled. I had come from a family background in business, which centred on customer service and helping others. It sounds like a cliché but I really wanted to make a positive difference to people’s lives. I come from a Sikh background and my faith teaches us to help each other and serve those less fortunate than ourselves.

My brother in laws at the time were serving officers with the Metropolitan Police. They inspired me to join the police and I have never looked back. I joined Cambridgeshire police in 2004 and unbeknownst to me, I was the first Sikh police officer to join the force. I had become an ambassador for my community and was building bridges between communities living here. Having a young family at the time, it was a challenge juggling shifts with family commitments. However, they were fully behind me and supportive of the difference I was making to those in need.

Sixteen years later I am a detective inspector in the Rape Investigation Team. I have undertaken a variety of roles, particularly in protecting vulnerable people. This is my passion and what compels me to do the very best for victims of crime. There are not many jobs which give you this level of satisfaction.

The proudest moment of my career was receiving the Queens Police Medal in 2018. This was for my services to policing and protecting the vulnerable. I will never forget the day I took my family to Buckingham Palace and received my honour from HRH Prince of Wales. My family are proud of my achievements and career. I strive to be a good role model for my children and others. This drives me to be a good police officer.

My advice for those aspiring to be detectives is to put the victim at the heart of any investigation. Imagine that it was your relative/friend/loved-one, who suffered as a result of a crime. Be inspired and use that motivation to seek justice for them. I absolutely love my job. I wake up every morning with a steely determination to help those who need it. Take a leap of faith…you won’t regret it!