Being a police officer 'the best job in the world'

Beverly Douglas worked for Avon and Somerset Police for 35 years

The longest-serving black female Avon and Somerset Police officer has written a book to reflect on her experience doing "the best job in the world".

Beverly Douglas, a Windrush child who grew up in the Easton area of Bristol, was on the force for 35 years before she retired.

When she joined as a special constable in 1983, tensions were still high between the police and the city's black communities following the 1980 St Pauls Riot that led to 140 arrests.

"I felt confident that I could make a difference and the only way I could make a difference was if I was part of the establishment and part of the organisation that everybody was berating and saying was institutionally racist," Ms Douglas said.

Ms Douglas originally planned to join the British Army after school, but said she was forced to rethink her career plan when she "failed miserably" at the recruitment exam.

She told BBC Radio Bristol that she was inspired to join the police force after meeting "very kind" and "positive" community officers at her school.

Ms Douglas added that she was very curious and "always" asked them questions when they visited.

The resistance and hostility towards police in the late 1970s and early 1980s did not deter Ms Douglas, who said she "never" experienced any issues with officers in her area.

She said: "A lot of the people who were talking about this hadn't experienced it, but they'd obviously seen what was on the TV and what was coming out on the news.

"There was so much resistance towards the police in many ways that anybody that looked like me would never consider joining, but this was something that I had decided," she added.

'Viewed as a traitor'

Ms Douglas worked as a special constable for five years before she was promoted to a full-time police constable based at the station in Southmead.

"There was hostility and [members of the public] were racist towards me, but they were also hostile because of me being a cop. It was two-fold for me," she said.

She added that she also dealt with "fallout" from the black community for her career choice.

"I was viewed as a traitor, as a sell-out," she said.

Ms Douglas joined the police as a special constable in 1983

Ms Douglas credited her colleagues in the organisation for being a "lifeline" throughout the hardships she faced in policing.

"I'm not saying it was perfect, but if I didn't have that support, there's no way I would've remained in that organisation for so many years," she said.

Ms Douglas detailed her experience further in her new book, PC Bev.

Even with "all its ups and downs", Ms Douglas said she would "absolutely" relive her experience working in the police.

She hopes that the book will encourage other aspiring police officers who "want to make a difference" to embark on the career.

"Sislin Fay Allen opened the door as the first black police officer of the Met. On her shoulders, I stand," she added.