| Russell Mellis is 17 and lives in London. When
he’s 18 he will start training to be a policeman in
the Metropolitan Police Service¹. |
|
“I DID TRY A PART-TIME JOB IN A
GARDEN CENTRE…” |
1 | | “I’VE wanted to be a policeman all my life. | | | | watching the way they get people through traffic |
| | When I left school at 16 I joined the | | | | without any fuss. It’s amazing. They get an awful |
| | Metropolitan Police, not as a policeman of | | | | lot of respect.” |
| | course, but in the Civil Staff². At first | | | | |
| | the officers and colleagues tried to make fun | | 5 | | Last year Russell was attacked in the street. |
| | of me all the time, but nothing heavy. You are | | | | “After that there was a time when I didn’t want to |
| | soon just part of the team.” Although all his | | | | go out in case I was mugged again. But the |
| | colleagues are older than he is, Russell feels | | | | Police Service taught me to look after myself.” |
| | there’s no problem with his age. | | | | He is not afraid of anything now and knows what |
| | | | | | to do in difficult situations. |
2 | | He tries to spend some time at different police | | | | |
| | stations, to learn as much as he can. Russell has | | 6 | | He has saved someone’s life and has helped |
| | learned self-defence, first aid, human rights - | | | | people out of serious traffic accidents. He even |
| | even survival techniques. He knows what to | | | | broke up a fight between some of the meanest |
| | expect when he’s 18. “I did try a part-time job in a | | | | men he has ever seen. And he was not on duty |
| | garden centre,” he jokes, “but it wasn’t exciting | | | | at all! So, what’s the secret? |
| | enough.” | | | | |
| | | | 7 | | “You must treat everyone the way you want to |
3 | | His mates who stayed on at school have now | | | | be treated. Police Officers just see the bad side |
| | mostly dropped out and they still don’t know | | | | of London. But 99 people in 100 want to help |
| | what to do with themselves. “They are driving | | | | you out. It’s the one bad guy you have to watch |
| | round in old bangers while I have got a good job | | | | out for. I know I have made the right decision for |
| | with good money and a brand new Aprillia | | | | my future - I don’t want to do anything else.” |
| | RS250 (the coolest Italian motorbike in the | | | | |
| | world). Now they all want to join the police!” | | | | For more information about careers with the |
| | | | | | Metropolitan Police Service check out our |
4 | | Motorbikes are a big part of Russell’s life. “I like | | | | website www.met.police.uk |
| | the friendship of bikers and it’s the same feeling | | | | |
| | I get in the police force. I really admire The | | | | ‘CosmoGIRL!’ |
| | Special Escort Group Motorcyclists. I like | | |