When Billy Cunningham announced to his family and friends that he wanted to be a police officer it’s fair to say some eyebrows in his community were raised.

Coming from a Traveller background, it wasn’t necessarily a typical career choice.

But his mother was very supportive, and Billy was keen to bring about change and be a trailblazer for other Traveller children to consider policing as a career.

Billy, who became a volunteer police cadet (VPC) in May 2019, aged 14, and began training to become a police officer last month, said: “In general, there aren’t many police officers from gypsy Traveller backgrounds, which made it feel daunting for me to join, but also motivated me to be the change and to show that you can have a career in policing despite the stigma.

“I want to create change, not only for my community but for everyone, from all walks of life, and show young gypsy Travellers that we can have a career in policing and to not be afraid of what everyone else thinks.

“When I told my mum I wanted to be a police officer she was fully supportive and even paid more than £50 in one week transporting me to and from cadet events. She always knew that becoming an officer was my next big goal and when I got in she was just as excited and proud as I was. 

“I wasn't that nervous if I'm honest, I knew this was what I wanted to do and I've always known I was destined for a different lifestyle." 

Billy has been an active member of the cadets and became one of the first High Sheriff Cadets appointed by Caroline Bewes DL in 2021.

He is due to pass out in front of friends and family at police headquarters in Huntingdon in August.

A recent intake of officers on the constabulary’s degree-holders pathway pushed the headcount to 1756 officers, comfortably reaching the 1732 target.