A Hitchin-based police officer has spoken about life on the frontline as Hertfordshire Constabulary encourages more people to consider a career in policing.

PC Izabela Nowosinska, a Response officer based in Hitchin, says her job is far from a typical nine-to-five role.

"Most of my friends work regular nine-to-five jobs, so my days tend to be a bit more unpredictable," she said. "Obviously, I can't tell them everything, but this job is never monotonous, there is always something going on."

Izabela qualified as a fully independent officer in October 2025 after completing two years of on-the-job training as a student police constable. During that time, she worked with Neighbourhood Policing Teams as well as the Domestic Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit (DAISU).

She now responds to 999 emergency calls from the public as part of her role in Hitchin.

"Every day challenges you, not just as a police officer but as a person. You might think you have seen it all, but you really haven't," she said.

"I have to problem solve on the spot, consider my options in a live situation and draw on my own life experiences. It really builds you as a person, which is what I love."

Public service runs in Izabela's family, with her mum working in healthcare as an A&E sister and her aunt working as a prison officer in Poland. She said frontline policing was her first step towards her long-term goal of becoming a detective.

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"I know there are a lot of doors here for me to open in the future. Policing is so varied, which means there are lots of opportunities," she said.

While she says the job is rewarding, she admits the shift work can be challenging.

"The shift pattern can be difficult, especially night shifts, and there are times when my friends or family are meeting up and I can't go because I'm working.

"But I get great satisfaction out of my work. It's not even the big jobs that stand out for me but the little ones where you really make a difference to someone because you have shown some care and helped them."

Hertfordshire Constabulary is currently recruiting new officers and is encouraging people from all backgrounds to apply.

There are two main entry routes:

• The Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP), which includes 20 weeks of initial training before joining a frontline team.
• The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship, which allows recruits to earn while studying for a degree alongside on-the-job training.

The application deadline is Tuesday 31 March. The force is also accepting applications from existing police officers who wish to transfer, including constables, detectives and sergeants.

More information about joining Hertfordshire Constabulary can be found on the force's careers website.

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