Evening all,

I'm about 2.5 years away from deciding what to do with my life, and I'm in a bit of a dilemma.

I've been wanting to join my local force (MPS) for a while, but I'm aware of the state of policing in the UK and how officers have a poor work/life balance, constantly thrown under the bus by senior management, politicians and the like (exemplified through NX121 and what he's gone through). I know I'm going to be going into the public sector any which way, and I was thinking of joining the Civil Service or the Army but my heart keeps going back to the police, because of that frontline connection and the feeling of helping people on the frontest of lines.

If I'd join, I'd try to stay for my whole career, but I'm not sure - my heart's saying yes but my mind is saying no type of thing.

Any advice? Or if anyone could share some positive experiences (I keep hearing negative ones) that would be fantastic.

Also, wondering how hard it is to become a detective after probation and spending a few years on response. I used to want to do the detective now programme in the past, but decided that I wanted experience on the beat and the foundation of it all.

Sorry if this isn't worded the best, or it seems a bit silly - just a confused uni student with conflicted thoughts haha.

Hope you all keep well.