Ellie Roissetter
A student who volunteered with the police, helping with criminal investigative work during her degree, has been inspired to follow that career path herself in the future.
Ellie Roissetter volunteered for West Mercia Police Criminal Investigative Department (CID) during her second and third year of study. She hopes to one day work in CID.
“It was the most rewarding experience of my life,” she said the former Hereford Sixth Form College pupil. “Being able to work on real life cases and support officers was incredible. I have learnt so much from this opportunity and it has made me a more outgoing and confident person. I have aspired to be a police officer since I was very young but wanted more life experience before joining and I’m glad I did take this path!”
The 21-year-old’s work included scrutinising mobile phone records and building intelligence profiles to assist officers in putting together their case. She also examined CCTV footage to trace individuals’ movements and attended a week’s court trial with an officer to see how giving evidence worked in practice. She was able to shadow different officers during her time. Ellie had to go through extensive training and a vetting process before getting the role. “Seeing the case being built from a piece of intelligence and then gathering enough evidence to be able to charge somebody and hopefully bring them to justice is a very rewarding experience,” she said.
Ellie, who lives in Tyberton, near Hereford, graduates from her university studies with a First Class Honours degree in Law. She said her law training really helped in her work and believes this will be advantageous when it comes to pursuing her career ambitions.
“Having a law background is helpful as it allows you to understand the different types of offences which may occur,” she said. “It also trains your mind to think like a lawyer which can be helpful when determining what evidence you think will make a case successful at trial and whether you think you may have enough evidence to take a case to court. Furthermore, having that background knowledge will hopefully make it easier whilst studying and working in the role of an officer.”
Upon leaving university, Ellie has now gained a job working in West Mercia’s Victim and Witness Care Unit, which supports victims and witnesses through the court process once a person has been charged with a crime. She said: “It is such an amazing job! I feel like I really get to make a difference.”
She plans to apply for a job in the CID within the next few years, but wants to gain more experience first. “Studying for my law degree, allowed me to understand the lawyer side of things and what it takes for a case to be successfully proven in a court,” she added. “In my current role, I am gaining understanding of what happens between when a person has been charged and the court date. This is helpful as it gives you an insight what victims and witnesses experience in the aftermath of crime. I am hoping all of this will help me become a better and more well-rounded officer when I apply.”
Ellie praised her academic experience at Worcester, saying: “Each and every one of the Law team at Worcester are outstanding and go the extra mile to help you in any way they can. They are truly a credit to the University and are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. I would like to thank my amazing partner and incredible family without whom, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
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