Biography of Rebecca Thomas – A Journey in Policing

Born to a Filipina mother who came to the UK in the 1970s to work in the NHS and a British father, I grew up in a household that valued both service and resilience. My parents’ story began in the UK, where they met, fell in love, and briefly moved to the Philippines in 1974 where my brother was born.  Soon after, they made the decision to return to the UK. Two years later, I was born, and my mother continued her service in the NHS, working tirelessly until her retirement shortly before I embarked on my own career of service in 2000, joining West Mercia Police.

Growing up in a predominantly white, small town, I was no stranger to racism. From an early age, I was subjected to racial abuse particularly at school, an unfortunate experience that continued well into my career as a police officer. Some members of the public, often intoxicated, would hurl racist insults at me. I recall returning from a two-week holiday in the Maldives, sporting a lovely suntan, only to face almost daily racial abuse from ignorant members of the public upon my return to work. This racist name-calling became a constant theme, particularly during my time working in Custody. While my resilience saw me through these horrible incidents, I was unprepared for the microaggressions I encountered from a minority of people within my organisation. One individual questioned my ethnicity and referred to me as a “westernised Becky,” reducing my identity to a stereotype, and on one occasion questioned the value of a development course for ethnically diverse officers and staff that I had embarked on. 

Despite these challenges, the resilience my mother demonstrated as an immigrant to the UK was a constant source of inspiration. Filipinos are known for their incredible strength in the face of adversity, shaped by centuries of colonial history, natural disasters, and socio-economic challenges. My mother embodied that resilience, adapting to a new culture, learning a foreign language, and raising a family while working long shifts in the NHS. Her unyielding work ethic and ability to maintain grace in the face of difficulties taught me invaluable lessons that I carry with me today.

That resilience became my foundation as I pursued a career in policing. Initially, I joined the West Mercia Police after completing my Biology degree, not entirely certain of my future path but drawn by the discipline and the thrill of fast-response policing. However, what began as an exploration of opportunity soon grew into a proud vocation. As a mixed-heritage officer, the early 2000s presented challenges that were different from today. Policewomen of colour, were practically unheard of in the county of Shropshire.  Looking different to my colleagues led to feelings of insecurity and isolation.  Despite this, I took the bold step to apply to become a Firearms Officer in 2003.

Being the only woman, and the only person of colour on the firearms course, I often felt the weight of having to work twice as hard to prove my capability. I will never forget the casual misogyny I witnessed when male instructors belittled a female instructor who was on maternity leave—a moment that solidified my awareness of the challenges women face in male-dominated roles. Despite these pressures, I successfully completed the course and went on to serve as an Authorised Firearms Officer, an achievement I still take immense pride in today.

In 2009, I decided to pursue leadership and became an acting Sergeant in 2010. However, just a year into this new chapter, I became pregnant with my daughter. My maternity leave experience was marked by isolation; I felt distant from the force, and to my surprise, learned that opportunities for promotion had passed me by due to the lack of communication from line managers and senior leaders.  When I expressed my interest in applying for the Sergeant promotion board while on maternity leave, I was told I should perhaps focus on being a mother—a comment that, to this day, leaves me questioning whether it was due to my tired appearance as a new parent or more deeply rooted gender biases.

Undeterred, I returned to work after maternity leave and quickly gained acting roles again, eventually passing the Sergeant promotion board on my first attempt. From there, my career flourished with roles in Local Policing, Patrol, and Custody, and eventually, I earned a promotion to Inspector. Leading a Patrol team as an Inspector was a proud moment, solidifying my place in the force and proving to myself and others that determination and hard work can overcome even the steepest of challenges.

Throughout my career, it has been my mother’s resilience that has driven me to keep going, to push through the obstacles and doubts. Her strength as an immigrant to the UK, facing systemic barriers and adapting to life far from home, mirrors my own experiences as a woman of colour in policing. I owe much of my determination to her example.

Today, I am honoured to serve as a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Inspector for West Mercia Police. My lived experiences as a female of colour uniquely position me to drive cultural change in my force. Whether through my involvement in strategic governance meetings or the implementation of the Police Race Action Plan, I am dedicated to embedding inclusivity into the fabric of our organisation. My story is a testament to resilience, courage, and the belief that the future of policing must be one of equality and opportunity for all.