DC Julie finally celebrates Christmas - after three decades of solving crimes

Julie has bid a fond farewell to her friends and colleagues after 29 years, having worked her final shift at Millbank Police Station in South Shields.

After working for a furniture company and then a London bank, she became a PC in June 1990 aged 24, when the police still carried wooden truncheons and women officers wore skirts. In 1994 she joined CID.

Her dedication meant great personal sacrifice, missing Christmases, children’s birthday parties and sending apologies for being unavailable for social gatherings.

But in 2019 she has made up for lost time and in the new year she’s off to Antigua for a family holiday. Despite the sacrifices, she wouldn’t change anything.

She said: “If a job comes in, you don’t go home. That’s the life of a detective. You can be in from 8am one day until 4am the next. That’s just part of the job.”

DC Jackson, now 54, remembers starting in 1990. She said: “There were no CCTV cameras in those days.

“While on a task-force dealing with shoplifters, burglars and car thieves, I remember standing on top of Astral House in Sunderland with a pair of binoculars in plain clothes. It was a different world.”

“I’ve always loved the investigative side of the job. Proving someone’s guilt, delving into things, thinking outside of the box. Being a detective requires you to work as a team, but also be methodical, organised and instinctive.”

She has seen it all over the years, adding: “As a detective, 99% of the people I came into contact with during my working day were criminals and 1% were nice, law-abiding members of the community.

“And when I did speak to that 1%, it was usually because they had been a victim of crime committed by one of the 99%!

“But I wouldn’t have changed anything. I’ve loved my time with the force. It’s been an incredible ride.

“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have worked in some incredibly tight-knit teams with some wonderful people,”