Inspector Siobhan Barber Retires after an Illustrious Career

A highly skilled, experienced and revered inspector retires from the force this week after joining as a constable in 1991. Prior to this, she was a special constable for two years, joining aged 19.

[Photo: Inspector Siobhan Barber at the start and end of her career.] 

Siobhan Barber has worked in a variety of teams and departments within Leicestershire Police and leaves after 32 years from her most recent, and incidentally longest serving, position as the Serious Crime Partnership Manager.

The amount of opportunities available within the force are something that Siobhan describes as “incredible.”

Siobhan says: “I have had around 20 different jobs in one throughout my career. Some were sideways or lateral moves but each different role I’ve had has been a positive opportunity to grow and develop my skills. Progression doesn’t always need to be upwards.”

In 2011 Siobhan accepted the position as Staff Officer, a role within Executive Support, which directly supports the Chief Constable. During her tenure Siobhan supported a national portfolio of work about mental health and disability with the National Police Chief’s Council.

This work lead to a briefing to the then Home Secretary Theresa May and the Health Secretary in relation to policing and mental health, delivering a national response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission inquiry into Disability Hate Crime and went on to influence changes to the Mental Health Act and the creation of the Crisis Care Concordat.  

The changes and improvements brought about by the national work for both her frontline colleagues and people needing support with their mental health are something that Siobhan is very proud of.

Having started a family whilst working as an Inspector Siobhan has successfully managed a demanding career with motherhood. Coming from a policing family (mum, dad, aunt and uncle) Siobhan’s soon to be teenage daughter has aspirations to join the force and become a police dog handler when she’s old enough. Something that Siobhan is really proud of and fully supports.

Thinking about her retirement, Siobhan is looking forward to being able to spend plenty of time outside mountain biking or hiking with her husband and daughter. She said she will miss the people at work and the structure and challenges of a working day, but definitely won’t miss the alarm sounding every morning!