Former regional press reporter Jon Brett has taken a change of career and is now a policeman on the beat in Milton Keynes.

But he keeps his hand in at writing by contributing a column for the local paper, the Milton Keynes News.

His skill lies in turning regular police work into a column that keeps the readers riveted.

And he says it was his journalism background that helped him succeed in the force.

He said: “As a journalist I was always interested in the public and finding out about people through stories.

“Now I’m still doing that and it’s incredibly interesting and exciting – it’s the most varied job and no two days are the same.”

Jon’s career began at the Milton Keynes Citizen before he moved to the now-defunct Milton Keynes Mirror.

After working for The Sun as a freelance showbiz reporter he took a PR position with the police force and subsequently decided to become a police officer.

Jon, (38), has now been writing his column Brett’s Beat in the Milton Keynes News for about five months and said it came about through his relationship with the paper’s editor David Gale.

He said: “I’ve known David for a number of years from when I was a reporter and a PR manager with the police and we would often bump into each other.

“It was a mutual thing – we both talked about the idea for a column and I was very keen to do it. It appears to be working well.

“I have deliberately chosen to write about straightforward police subjects, things that we do day-in, day-out, which the public do not necessarily know about.

“For example, I recently wrote a column about taking statements. It’s a pretty basic police function but is actually a very involved process and quite complex and the public wouldn’t really know that.”

Jon said he has received a positive response to the column from a number of different levels.

He said: “The best response has been from colleagues. Police officers can be quite cynical but they have been saying ‘Yeah, it’s really good; it’s about time the police got their point of view across through the Press’.

“The column is well read by the public. I’m in a job where I’m on the street day-in, day-out dealing with the public and at virtually every job now members of the public say ‘You’re that copper from the paper’.”

Jon has been an officer with the Thames Valley Police Force for more than a year now and said his journalism experience has helped him in many aspects of his job.

He said: “It’s a fantastic job – physically and mentally it’s very hard work but it’s immensely satisfying and enjoyable.

“I’m fortunate to have a good relationship with David Gale. I find writing for the Milton Keynes News very relaxing and it’s a good outlet for my writing.”

Jon has also been approached by BBC Three Counties Radio, which was keen to bring the column to the airwaves – but there were some reservations from the police service.

He said: “Beyond that the scope is limitless. There are very few people with my background in front line police work. My communication skills from being a journalist work well on the street dealing with difficult people.

“The column is unique as far as I’m aware. Very occasionally in the odd area a beat police officer will write a column in a village or parish newsletter but I don’t know of any others.”

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