An Earlsfield policeman that left Zambia in 2008 says he joined the police force to help people, despite many of his family and friends having a negative view of the police.

Pele Kaunda left Zambia to join the British Army in 2008, where he travelled around the world and helped people in times of conflict and in times of peace. He says that upon leaving the army he still wanted to give back to the community - and this is why he decided to join the police.

Even with many of his family and friends believing he would have "no chance" of joining the Met being black and Zambian, he has managed to change their perspectives by joining and explaining his experiences.

Kaunda, who currently works with the CID (Criminal Investigation Department), says that he goes home happy every day knowing that he has made a positive difference. He goes on further to encourage those who are thinking about joining the police to do so, saying that they need your "everyday person" and a "diverse police".

Pele Kaunda interview

In an interview, Kaunda explains why he is a policeman, what he does, why he loves it and why others should consider doing it.

Have a read below.

What was your main motivation for joining the police?

"As far back as I can remember, I have always found happiness by seeing other people happy and generally enjoyed looking out for others and being there for them in times of need.

"I left Zambia to join the British army in 2008, where I was lucky enough to travel around the world helping those in need both in peace time and times of conflict. When I left the army I still felt I had more to give to the people and community. I then joined the prison service where we worked tirelessly with the aim of rehabilitating prisoners and changing their lives.

"However, I still felt I could give more, and wanted to help change lives before they made the wrong decisions in life. I wanted to share my story with those who felt they had few options in life and be living proof that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. The police was therefore a natural transition."

What were your expectations before joining?

"Before joining the police, I knew very little about how it works. I used to watch police shows and that never show you what police work is really like. I was expecting it to be very robotic and regimented, a bit like the army where you are mostly told what to do and how to approach each situation.

"However, after joining, I quickly realised that once you are in your patrol car, you are in charge and you have to assess each situation differently. You deal with a wide variety of situations but it's always good to know you don't work alone, but as a close-knit team with a similar mission."

What did your friends and family think of you joining?

"Most of my friends had a negative perspective towards police, mostly due to what they heard or have seen on TV and the news. At the time I was joining, there was a lot of negative news about police in the media from around the world.

"There was also a perspective among my friends and family that the police was near impossible to get into and that you had to be extremely good at everything. They also felt that being black and Zambian, I had no chance in joining the Met.

"However, I managed to change their perspective by joining and telling them of my experience in the police. My friends and family are now always asking me about the police and my wife probably now knows more about policing than your average probationer."

What is your current day-to-day role?

"I am currently working with CID. My role is to help progress drug-related crimes that my fellow officers are investigating. Most violent crime in London is drug-related. I believe that by putting the criminals involved in drug supply away, we are taking away a major source of income from gangs and reducing their resources, numbers and crime.

"Previous to this I was an Emergency Response Officer, where my role was to go to any emergency calls. On one day this could be dealing with someone who is having a mental health crisis and about to take their life, dealing with violent crime or even having a cup of tea with an elderly victim that has no family or friends to talk to.

"At the end of the day regardless of the role, I go home knowing I have made a positive difference directly or indirectly to someone's life. For me there is no greater fulfilment.

What would you say to someone considering a career in the Met?

"Behind every uniform is a unique officer. You don't have to be robotic, you just have to be yourself. You are representing the community and you have to be the community.

"When I am out on patrol I talk to people like I talk to them outside uniform. I am myself. London is diverse and needs a diverse police. It needs your everyday person but just in uniform serving and protection their community. Here you will find a team that will take care of you and value your every effort. Every contact matters."

You can take a look at the available careers at the Met by going to the Met Police website.

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