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Professional Development

International Ambition Tom Atkins, London NSY Branch

At the beginning of 2020, I was fortunate to receive a Study Award, funded by the IPA Lottery, to support my Masters studies in International Criminal Justice at the University of Portsmouth. Having now completed my studies, graduating with a MSc with merit, it seems appropriate to mark the achievement through some reflection on my experience of further education and how the IPA supported it. R eturning to academia after a break of almost 10 years since my undergraduate degree, I knew that it would be a I was however, not as prepared as I could have been for just how challenging the course Never-the-less, despite a pause in my study when it did get too much, I persevered with the programme and am pleased to have completed

turned out to be. As a part-time, distance learning, research-led degree, a high level of self-motivation was the only way to get the work done. Although I had access to academic staff and tutors, and I made sure to visit them in person from London, there were no taught elements of the course and so if I wasn’t pushing myself to read, I wasn’t learning. Having worked a freelance career before policing, I was used to self-motivation. But, even with that experience, I often found it difficult to find both time and energy for study, especially alongside my full-time post as a murder detective with the Metropolitan Police. As many readers will know from their own experiences, when a job breaks you are there until it is solved, and this often means demanding 18-hour shifts. After such a day, the last thing one wants to do is to open a book on international criminal justice and to author some critical analysis of it.

great challenge but one that was important to undertake, especially to help develop a career in international policing and investigation. Many of the attractive posts I had seen advertised required an Advanced Degree as a pre-requisite and, as my undergraduate degree was in an entirely unrelated subject, I felt it important that to be of any service in the international field, my professional experience as an investigator should be supported by my academic qualifications. I chose the University of Portsmouth for its well regarded Institute of Criminal Justice Studies (ICJS) and because the course was, at the time, on a ‘recommended’ list published by the Coalition of the International Criminal Court, the ICC being a potential future employer. Portsmouth itself is also an interesting city with plenty of naval history, and a sense of ‘holiday’ when the sun is shining.

what I set out to do. Many of those books I refer to were paid for by the IPA Study Award, and I am extremely grateful for it. Beyond the financial element, and perhaps more importantly, I have found that having the IPA’s support for my professional development adds a great deal of confidence in such endeavours, and it has brought me closer to the organisation I have been a member of for many years. I look forward to any continued support. For those readers considering further study, whether serving or retired, I heartily recommend it. The feeling of achievement and satisfaction upon completion is great, and the qualification helps in all sorts of ways, from increasing credibility with employers through to supporting visa applications overseas. And, don’t forget to join the IPA Lottery and apply for a Study Award!

POLICE WORLD Vol 68 No.2, 2023

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