MATTHEW JONES

2022 MSc International Security and Risk Management graduate Matthew Jones spoke to us about his career journey at South Wales Police, the rewards of his job and more below!

What and when did you study at USW?

I began studying at USW in 2016 for an undergraduate degree in Police Sciences. I graduated in 2019 with a First Class Honours, and then studied for a post graduate Masters degree in International Security and Risk Management, finally graduating in 2022 with a Distinction.

What has your career been like since graduating to where you are now?

Since graduating, I have joined South Wales Police and have worked full time for 2 years. Prior to this, I volunteered with South Wales Police as a Special Constable for 3 and a half years.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Each day is different that’s for sure! Generally, a typical day can range from attending emergency calls and arresting people if necessary, dealing with threat, risk and harm, managing vulnerabilities, conducting interviews of arrested persons and also providing a professional level of service to members of the public in each interaction.

When did you realise you wanted to work in policing?

During secondary school, I was never sure fully what I wanted to do. But, my brother is a firefighter and I have always looked up to him. So, looking at the other emergency services, working in policing is where I saw my future and I started to work towards that and applying to USW.

What tips do you have for someone who’s thinking about working in policing?

To be patient, especially during the application process as this can take some time, but it’s definitely worth the wait. To always adopt a can do attitude and put your hand up to volunteer and never be afraid to ask questions (there is no such thing as a stupid question). To work hard within your training and exams, as knowledge is power. That will best help you be able to apply the theoretical side in training, to the real life scenarios within the public.

What are the biggest rewards of your job/what are the biggest obstacles?

In my opinion, the biggest rewards of the job are victim satisfaction - taking pride knowing that I have assisted in an investigation with a positive outcome and delivered the level of service expected by the public, with the highest degree of professionalism.