One of the principles The Travellers’ Times stands for is the respect and recognition of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers. All too often, public authorities – such as Police services across the UK - fail to give that respect and recognition. That is why we have welcomed and published this request from Thames Valley Police asking for more Gypsy and Travellers to join them.

Make the most of your qualities with Thames Valley Police

Policing an area as large, complex and culturally diverse as Thames Valley presents a wide variety of challenges. We police three counties (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire) and serve a population of more than two million. It’s a unique policing environment, with a unique set of needs and it’s absolutely vital that our workforce is able to engage with different sections of our community and deliver a service that the public can trust.

“It’s important that our organisation reflects this diversity”

There are many ethnic groups across Thames Valley, including the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and it’s important that our organisation reflects this diversity. This is why we’re interested in new recruits with a wide range of life experiences and backgrounds who can offer skills and expertise to strengthen the work we do.

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Police Association

Whether you join Thames Valley Police as an officer or member of staff, you will have access to the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Police Association (GRTPA), a network that offers unity and support for police personnel who are from a GRT background. Intrinsically linked to the GRTPA’s main aim is the desire to foster good relationships between the police and GRT communities.

“We want our officers and staff to be proud of their heritage”

We want our officers and staff to be proud of their heritage; to be role models challenging the negative stereotypes we so often hear about in the media. We want to be a Force that looks and feels like Thames Valley; and we want all of our communities to value our work and the difference it makes.

Why join TVP?

This is your opportunity to work in a unique environment and deal with rewarding challenges that you won’t find in any other career. You’ll be joining some of the best people in their field. We’ll reward your ambition and drive with the support and training you need to excel, along with the possibility of taking on more responsibility or transferring to specialist units.

We can’t pretend it’s an easy job; it’s a task that often calls for split-second decisions, in difficult circumstances. And whilst some days are harder than others, we take pride in working to make the Thames Valley a safer place for everyone.

Whether it’s patrolling the streets as an officer, helping victims as a Call Handler or engaging with local schools and businesses as a PCSO, your next career move might be closer than you think.

To find out more about working for Thames Valley Police and the support we can offer you, visit our Force website. We welcome applications from all areas of the community regardless of your age, race, colour, religious belief, marital status, gender or sexual orientation.