IWD 2025 – meet some of our team

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we spoke to some of our female colleagues about their contribution to North Wales Police:

Detective Inspector Sophie Ho, PVPU Strategic (Protecting Vulnerable People Unit)/CRU:

Hello, I’m Sophie…

I’ve worked for North Wales Police for the past 13 years. I like to challenge myself and this is reflected in my career.  I have completed roles within the Control Room, Priority Crime Team, CID, Response Policing and lastly as an area Support Sergeant. I am a Police Support Unit officer, taser trained officer and a critical incident debriefer. Response Policing will always be a role I hold close to my heart, specifically the time I spent supervising a talented team of officers within the Wrexham Rural District.

Caring for and developing colleagues is the most important thing to me. I get satisfaction from seeing those that I’ve supported achieve their goals, more so than I do with my own successes! I believe that helping survivors of crime find their voice and being that voice when they cannot speak is the most vital part of the role.

I am extremely passionate when investigating domestic abuse and empowering children and the most vulnerable within society. I introduced domestic abuse awareness sessions to communities and agencies and ensured a means of providing care packages to children who witnessed and experienced domestic abuse within my previous role.  This passion feeds my current role, which allows me the opportunity to influence and shape organisational approaches to safeguarding the most vulnerable.

I recently became a first-time mother, and I must admit, I worried at first that I would struggle to manage both roles. I achieved promotion to Inspector when my baby was just nine weeks old. Whilst it does involve hard work and requires dedication, it is important to me that I continue to follow my ambitions and set this example for my child. I hope this also inspires colleagues that they too can do it and have a work/life balance!  

I have recently returned to work after maternity leave and eager to get stuck in became the Police Officer Vice Chair of the Gender Equality Network – a role that I have always aspired to be due to the ability to support others and shape positive change. 

Those I love say that I am always on the go, I am super resilient and that I have deep empathy. I believe this is why I enjoy being a Police Officer and my most favourite role – the mother of a toddler who is always on the go too!

 

Temporary Inspector Kate Bithell, OSS MRU / CDIU 

Hi - I’m Kate Bithell and am the T/Insp for MRU and CDIU.

I’ve worked for North Wales Police for 18 years and have undertaken 15 different roles across LPS / NPT / OSS / CS and the NPCC Staff Office. I am a Licensed Search Officer and trained in Disaster Victim identification.

I’m incredibly proud of my team and the work they undertake to support the public. My role includes driving performance, reducing demand off frontline resources, early identification of crime trends / repeat offenders and delivering a high-quality public service.

I’m passionate about supporting and developing staff. I am secretary of the Gender Equality Network and a Force Wellbeing Champion. I arrange and lead monthly staff well-being walks in Eryri.

I’m dedicated to driving and delivering high standards of public service and investing time to make a difference within our communities. My work to safeguard elderly / vulnerable persons received national recognition at the Jane’s Police Review Gala awards. This was work undertaken in response to community concerns amongst the elderly about accessing the police, bogus callers and anti-social behaviour, where we arranged and delivered several community events, with support from partner agencies to provide advice, reassurance and to introduce them to their neighbourhood policing teams. This helped support our vision and build public trust and confidence. Due to their success the events were rolled out across the region. I and two other colleagues were nominated for a diversity in action award and were announced as runners up.

Outside of work I am a member of the North East Wales Search and Rescue Team and the Search and Rescue Dog Association and have been with NEWSAT for around 18 years. I have a two-year-old black labrador called Willow who I’m training as an open area search dog. I enjoy hill walking, mountain photography and spending time with family and friends.

Sergeant Emma Birrell, Roads Crime Unit

I have been a police officer for over 11 years based largely within the specialist operations area of “OSS”.

Having completed my probation in Wrexham town in the tower, as it was then prior to its demolition and city status, I quickly realised that my heart lay within Roads Policing.

I completed my advanced driving course in 2017 and joined Roads Policing as a PC where I won a commendation for bravery in pursuing four criminals involved in a burglary. I then joined the Intercept Team upon its creation in 2020 being one of the first officers in the force to hold my TPAC qualification and then as a Tactical Advisor for pursuits.

In 2022, I was promoted to Sergeant completing my boards within a month of going on maternity leave and returned for a short time to supervise officers back to my roots in the Wrexham area, before then returning to the newly merged Roads Crime Unit.

Returning from maternity was a big change, adjusting to my new normal of working full time shifts whilst being a mum, a wife and owning horses.

I thoroughly enjoy my area of work as a traffic sergeant where no two days are the same and I can have the best of both worlds; being out on the ground and being a line manager. One day I can be dealing with a fatal collision and supporting the family and the next utilising TPAC tactics on an OCG nominal all whilst managing a team of skilled officers who I am proud to supervise.

Specialist ops is often thought of as a male dominated field and I am keen to show female officers that we are represented and skilled enough to excel in this area.

I have had several generations of police officers in my family before me and only time will tell if my toddler will follow me into policing!