Planet Police

by Natalie Vellacott

Natalie Vellacott worked in Sussex Police for almost a decade, during which time she investigated almost every type of crime from traffic offences, thefts and minor assaults to burglaries, rape and murder.

These revealing and often humorous stories from the frontline of policing address the questions Natalie is most frequently asked as a former "cop": what is the worst incident you dealt with? the funniest? the craziest? the most serious? She also shares personal life experiences, showing how these impacted the way she dealt with issues that arose in police work.

A fascinating read; hard to put down!

Genres: Christian, Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Christian Non Fiction, British Literature

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 27, 2015

About the author

Natalie Vellacott spent a decade as a police officer in England before swapping her badge for a Bible and heading for Southeast Asia as a Christian missionary. She volunteered on Logos Hope, a giant ship, for 2 years with 400 people from 65 other countries enduring the cultural catastrophes in order to enjoy the exciting adventures.

Natalie began writing in the Philippines when she fell in love with a group of street children addicted to a solvent called Rugby. Having founded a charity to help the boys and draw attention to their plight, she naively entitled her first book and has been trying to get it out of the Rugby Union chart ever since.

Natalie has also dabbled in Christian fiction for children, in the choose your own adventure style, mostly for the benefit of her nephew, Reuben, who is pleased that he takes centre stage.

Natalie is now involved in evangelism in the UK. In 2023, she published a new book about her recent experiences, as well as a series of contemporary short stories based on some of the parables that Jesus told.

Reviews

[Jason McIntire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've seldom paid this much for a Kindle book - and seldom gotten this much enjoyment from the purchase. Planet Police served as read-aloud entertainment during a recent 20-hour round trip, and it helped pass the miles pleasantly for all of us in the car.

I should mention that all the said listeners were adults. Vellacott's account includes some material suitable for mature audiences only - but I would hasten to add that she doesn't sensationalize, relating even the most sordid facts with admirable tact and circumspection.

Planet Police is the kind of book I would read more often, but it's rare to find such an account written by a Christian and in a conservative way. It's like a full DVD set of Adam 12, only from a godly perspective and without any episodes you'd have to skip. I recommend it highly!

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

So pleased to have won an electronic copy of this book via Librarything.

This book was of special interest to me, as my granddaughter has just started the 'Uniformed Services' course in Worthing and is awaiting to join the Police Cadets. Lancing, Worthing and Shoreham by Sea are my local Police Stations.

This was an excellent read and shall be passing some tips onto my granddaughter. Recommended.

[Jes Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting memoir that gives an insider look at the world of policing. Since I'm currently obsessed with cops and agents shows, this book was a good look at the reality behind it. The author's testimony was also very touching.

[Loz Densham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliantly funny take on life working in the sussex police. A perfect balance of real stories and humorous comments from the author’s perspective. This is well written and I loved every minute. Would highly recommend- you won’t be disappointed!

[Wendy Paulizky]

Good to hear a female police officers side of what it is like to work in the police force

[Todd Coburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book relates the author’s journey from adolescence to adulthood as it relates to her experiences on the Sussex Police Force.

The writing style is somewhat narrative, as with the author’s other books, yet she bares her soul to the reader as she presents her experiences as well as her seemingly unfiltered thoughts and feelings about them. Her transparency with her successes as well as her self-perceived shortcomings is one of this things that makes this, and her other books, so memorable.

Yet this book also provides insight into the inner workings of the Sussex police, and as such provides a glimpse into all police work. It also provides insight for Christians in the workplace, as the author relates her struggles with warring ethics and responsibilities due to her delegation as a police officer and her membership in the family of God.

Overall, I found the book humorous in some places, hilarious in others, insightful in some areas, troubling in others, and informative & engaging throughout. In fact, I had trouble putting it down.

I think anyone interested in crime novels, Justice, police work, or Christians in the workplace will enjoy this book, as will most anyone who deeply enjoys reading.

Enjoy.

[Els · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly interesting read written from a unique perspective. I believe the writing style could be slightly more engaging, but the subject matter was engrossing enough to gloss this over. Ms. Velacott writes tactfully and honestly, leaving out any gruesome details without shortchanging information.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a female British police officer who also became a christian. As an anglophenia and a christian myself this became a must read.
It was interesting to read how the police operate in the UK. I also really enjoyed Nataile's journey from growing up in a christian home falling away then accepting Jesus as her Lord and Savior. And then the struggle of a Christian in the police force. It's was very encouraging to see the Lord's hand in her life then moving her away from her profession as a police officer to a missionary. I know Natalie is going to read this review so "Hello" Natalie from a Christian who lives in Alaska. I was very encouraged by your story. I look forward to reading your other book in the future.

[cloudyskye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm deeply impressed with Natalie's story. It is very honest and very informative, telling enough for readers to get a clear impression of all aspects of police work without becoming too graphic or disturbing.
She was clearly very dedicated and conscientious in her work. I'm sure she was able to use a lot of the abilities she had acquired later on as a missionary.
(BTW, a friend from my church served on the Logos Hope, too, for two years - finishing at just about the time Natalie started.)
The book strengthened the respect I have for our police - I expect their situation is similar here in Germany. And it makes me so grateful for my own work, where I don't carry all that responsibility.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this account of Natalie's experiences working with the Sussex police. The many decisions and challenges are revealing - reminding me of the "on the job training" in my previous career. There will always be situations which training and education cannot fully address. Especially in policing, as the people and situations can have far-reaching impact. Natalie's growth as a Christian eventually conflicted with her career - her thoughts and decision provide encouragement to those facing this same situation.

[Consuelo Murgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before becoming a Christian missionary, Natalie Vellacott was a UK police officer from 2001 to 2011. She started at the age of 19, thus fulfilling her childhood dream. She worked both as a plain clothed detective and as a uniformed officer, being later promoted to sergeant. During the decade she spent working for the Sussex Police she gained experience in several departments and was employed in nine different stations.

In 2002 her younger brother James died in a car accident. He was 18. Natalie had a boyfriend at the time, but their relationship ended soon after it and no other boyfriend is mentioned all over the book, so I kept wondering if she hadn't had anybody else during the following years or if she just decided to omit this aspect of her life from the book.

In Planet Police, the author relates many episodes occurred during her career as a police officer, but I honestly found most of them unimpressive, maybe because all the characters were nameless and each story lasted only a few lines. I forgot them soon after reading them. Maybe the author should have used fake names instead of no names at all. Too many fleeting episodes and characters are difficult to remember. Their physical description would help the reader to picture them better.

What I appreciated was Natalie's willingness to admit her own mistakes, both on duty and off duty. For example she smoked, drank and gambled, giving up all these bad habits only after rediscovering her Christian faith in 2005 at the age of 23.

Natalie began to be involved in street evangelism during her free time, but this caused her some conflicts with her job. On Saturday mornings a small group of people met for prayer and then went out to give out leaflets about Christianity, but one day Natalie was asked to take part in a peaceful protest against the annual Gay Pride Parade in Brighton.

Natalie knew several gay officers and she treated them as individuals, rather than thinking about their sexuality. She didn't judge others, but she couldn't endorse an event like the Gay Pride.
Gay police officers had been given the permission to join the parade and march in uniform while they were working, so she thought it would be acceptable to take part in the protest during her spare time. Nothing identified her as an officer.

Despite all this some colleagues recognized her and Natalie was later summoned by a senior officer. She was told that some people disliked her views and that she shouldn't have aligned in public. She hadn't discriminated against anyone, but she had the potential to do it in the future. Some senior officers labelled her as homophobic. A clear example of political correctness dictatorship.

After almost a decade, Natalie began to feel always tired. At first she thought it was just because of shift work, but then she found out that her thyroid was underactive. She had to take medication every day for the rest of her life.

Many retired police officers died in their fifties. Their average life expectancy was of just seven years after they retired. If Natalie had completed her service (30 years) she would have retired at 49. Stress, shift work and the subsequent unhealthy lifestyle lead police officers to an early death. This is why Natalie decided to apply for a six-month unpaid leave. She needed to rest and wanted to look for another job. She sent several applications for paid jobs in the UK, but nobody seemed interested in hiring her. It was then that Natalie volunteered to become a missionary on a ship abroad, but she first needed to save up some money, so she asked to go back to work after only four months instead of six.

Natalie joined the Logos Hope ship in late August 2011. She had obtained a two-year unpaid leave. Some colleagues thought that Natalie was about to sacrifice two years of her life to help people, but she also wanted to share her faith, even if somebody believed it would be arrogant to go to another country and try to change the religion of its people. Of course, Natalie believes that Christianity is the only true religion, because in the Bible God claims to be the only real God and that those who choose otherwise will go to hell.

In September 2013, Natalie returned from her two years on board the Logos Hope ship and resigned from her post as Police Sergeant to become an independent missionary evangelist in the Philippines. What it's still unclear to me is which kind of Christian is she. Methodist, Baptist or what else?

Natalie gave up her salary, stable job and police pension!
She doesn't miss neither diversity training courses (e.g. courses about multiculturalism) nor the "politically correct brigade (...) seeking opportunities to take people down for expressing their opinions."

Natalie's cool picture wearing her police uniform and holding some guns appeared in a local newspaper and she was given permission to use it for the front cover of the book.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sent a free PDF version of this book by the author last year in exchange for an honest review (but have only just managed to get it to transfer successfully across to my Kindle).

First impressions: The front cover is good and is actually a photograph taken of the author for a publicity campaign by the force about fake guns that was done by a local newspaper. Natalie later obtained permission from the paper to use the image as her cover artwork.

I enjoyed reading Natalie's journey through the police force before she became a missionary and the book clearly communicates her faith and trust in God's plans for her life both as she works for the police and then through her decisions to leave the force in order to pursue her mission work overseas. Although all the cases narrated were certainly interesting and I enjoyed it, for some reason I did not connect to this book as much as I did with Natalie's first book. Obviously there is a need to protect identities with this book and maintain confidentiality but I think that when she was discussing events it might have helped to have provided fictional names just to give the people a bit more substance/depth to them. She clearly experienced a lot in her decade in the force so undoubtedly it would be a challenge to try and squeeze everything into one book but in some areas it felt like events had been condensed a bit too much and it read more like a report (although perhaps this was also because some events were quite tragic/emotional and because it is hard to alter the pace of true-life events to fit a narrative format).

Having said this the author was still refreshingly honest and also freely admitted any mistakes she had made during her time as a police officer. There were no typos or errors which was great and I am glad I read it so soon after "Rugby Boys" because it gave me more of a background to the earlier part of her life. It was still a very interesting account of the workings of the police departments and worth a read.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this copy from the author Natalie for free in return for an honest review.

This was a great book. It showed the struggles the author had with life early on and as she progressed through the police department. She was honest about the mistakes she made in her personal life and in the police department and how eventually, she gave up police work (after struggling mightily to find herself and helped along by the grueling shift work within the department) to re-find her Christian faith and devote her life to missionary work.

I'd well recommend this!

[Kierkegaard's Pancakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and worthwhile read

An anecdotal memoir following the author from rookie police officer, to maturing Christian set on ministry. Vellacott doesn't shy away from telling stories that shine a light on her mistakes and vulnerability. Such personal honesty, draws you in and makes her faith in Jesus that much more heartfelt.

In some ways this reads as a coming of age story, as a young person's aspirations in the world turn to faith in Christ and a "great life change". And that is what stands out above this "just being stories about policing", and it is also where I wanted more. I did not want to hear a recounting of sins, but I wanted to hear a deeper telling of how the "hound of heaven" persisted in tracking her down.

I look forward to reading Natalie's other books as this was well written and is worth recommending

[Jeff Shelnutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and fast-paced, Vellacott skillfully weaves together numerous incidences in a candid autobiographical account of her nearly ten years of service with the Sussex police.

In fulfilling a childhood dream and in pursuit of an innate sense of justice, the author decided to apply to the force. While her peers were still attending university, she embarks on a career as a police constable. Only 19 years old, the author is thrust into the sometimes harrowing, sometimes routine--but never dull--life of a cop.

If you’re like me, when you meet a police officer you want to ask all sorts of questions. To the outsider, various mental images arise, largely based on spurious or exaggerated TV crime melodramas. Vellacott seeks to present the reality of walking a beat, of dealing with the most mundane of situations, and of trying to maintain a compassionate attitude in the midst of a demanding public.

Arguably, one of the most important characteristics for a police officer to possess is a sense of humor. This book is chock full of Vellacott’s numerous amusing encounters with the public, with suspects and with colleagues. She is not afraid to laugh at her own mistakes. Each career has a learning curve, but few careers offer as much opportunity to witness just about every conceivable absurdity in which people can engage--particularly in the criminal realm!

And in her decade with the police, the author has the opportunity to work in numerous departmental settings and positions. She achieves her goal of becoming a detective, as well as working with the Child Protection Team and the dreaded Professional Standards Department (we in the US refer to it as Internal Affairs…). I was quite amazed at the range of her experiences, both because of her age and the relatively short amount of time in which she achieved these positions.

Unfolding throughout the account is Vellacott’s telling of her personal spiritual journey. She grew up in a Christian home, but walked away from her faith as a teenager. It wasn’t until she had been a police officer for several years that she turned back to the Lord. In spite of the worthy career she was pursuing in service to the public, she writes:

In April 2005, after many…[personal] problems and long struggle, I faced up to the fact that I was miserable and that my life was a total mess...I knew that God was waiting for me to repent of my sins and turn back to Him, and that He had been waiting patiently for a long time...All I could do was cry out for His help. I said sorry to God for my many sins. I believed His promise that, "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord [Jesus] will be saved." God, by His grace, planted true faith in my heart and I determined to live a new life before Him.

This salvation experience not only changed the author’s heart, but also transformed her life in a dramatic way. In the secular and increasingly anti-Christian environment of the UK, Vellacott often found herself at odds with the politically correct brigade (“who lurk somewhere in every station seeking opportunities to take people down for expressing their opinion.”) and reprimanded for daring to exercise her free speech. But through all of this, along with her increasing burden to really help the many hopeless and desperate she encountered while serving as a police officer, the Lord was preparing her for something more. But that is a different story...the sequel, if you will (They're Rugby Boys, Don't You Know?).

Deciding to be a police officer is choosing a career that offers endless opportunity for new and different experiences while at the same time serving the public interest. By its very nature police work is demanding and stressful. Though we tend to praise officers when they respond to our personal emergencies, in our ignorance and shortsightedness we too often resort to criticizing what we can’t comprehend. Vellacott admirably escorts the reader through the trials frustrations, as well as the through the successes and satisfactions. And she does so with refreshing honesty.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't live in Great Britain, and I have never been sworn staff, but I have been an ER nurse in an inner city, and I have been a nurse in jails. I found this book to reflect the universal aspects of law enforcement personnel, and unfolded like a group of coworkers hanging around the coffee and trading experiences. I loved it, and I think that many of us who have dealt with the more unpleasant aspects of the human experience can relate to the author's trials and tribulations. The writing is clear and involves the reader without being sensational or graphic. I found it to be an excellent read, and highly recommend it!
I'm really glad that I won it in a LibraryThing Giveaway that I entered!

[Ben Shore]

Planet Police really showcases the genuine perspective of a female officer and struggles that come with it. An engaging read from start to finish, loved the narrative voice!

[Linda J.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what the police really think and do in all those crazy and/or wild situations that we hear about? Planet Police: Never a dull moment policing the streets of Britain! (True Stories Book 27) by Natalie Vellacott gives us the inside scoop. Natalie became an officer while just nineteen, but I felt while reading this book her maturity was way beyond her age. She gives us some highlights from the many departments during her years on the force, some good and funny and some that were a bit sad.

At first I found it a tiny bit hard to related to the humor of the towns and counties that Vellacott was describing, but easily fell into the flow of the story. Training was hard and demanding, but came into good use as some of the incidents the officers came upon were quite astounding. From six year olds damaging cars, teens "borrowing" stolen furniture, child abuse, death and rapid promotions, working on the force began to take it's toll.

Author Vellacott reveals the inside turmoil and events that lead up to a major decision in her life. Curious about the "inner circle" of officers and detectives, this is a must read for you.

[Mel Corban · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drug dealers, burglars, juvenile delinquents, missing persons, missing… cows?! “Never a dull moment” is right! 'Planet Police' appealed to me especially as a long-time fan of British TV detective dramas. And while the events in this short autobiographical look inside the police force are no where near as sensational as, say, an episode of 'Inspector Morse', they are no less engaging or entertaining. That this book is written from a Christian perspective made it all the more worth reading.

I was immediately drawn in by Miss Vellacott’s straightforward, honest telling of events. Her shortcomings and fears are put forth as prominently as her successes. Such a down-to-earth look inside her ten-year career gave me an even deeper understanding of what law enforcement officers have to go through on a daily basis. The long hours, the paper work, the top brass's frequent over-focus on procedure and public relations rather than on catching the bad guys ('A Touch of Frost', anyone?), the physical strain, dealing with death and tragedy—all of those elements and more are very well-presented, and affirmed my respect for those who give their lives to a greater good… that is, serving the public.

In the later parts of the book, however, the author focuses more on an even greater good—serving the Lord. Seeing how God works in people’s lives never gets old for me, and reading about how God led the author into missionary work after such an intense and, I would say, pretty successful career topped everything off perfectly.

'Planet Police' is more of a collection of anecdotes rather than a sweeping memoir, and I actually wouldn’t have minded if it were a longer work (I would have loved a few more background details as to what her family were like, particularly her brother). Even so, I highly recommend this book. It’s a fun and fascinating read, and full of sincerity and spiritual truths. I thank the author for providing a free copy.

[Barton Jahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy books that take me to places I have never been…and inside ways of life I have never experienced.

This book is a memoir of the author’s ten-year career as a policewoman in Sussex, England.

But more than this, it is the real-life story of “coming of age,” learning the craft of police work in the U.K., from an insider’s viewpoint.

What makes this book an enjoyable read, pulling the reader in chapter after chapter, is Natalie’s warm and sympathetic assessment of human nature. Her coverage of the successes and failures in her own life as she grows into the job, the intimate tour into the police department and the community where she works, and her journey that leads to a re-connection to faith in Jesus Christ…is told with candor, honesty, and insight.

Most of all, this book confirms once again the handiwork of the biblical God to craft an optimum apprenticeship of preparation for people’s real calling and mission in life.

Planet Police ends with Natalie going to the Philippines as a missionary to help teenagers get off drugs.

I cannot imagine a better resume for this missionary calling and ministry…to work with street kids on drugs…than to have been a police sergeant in the U.K.

This was the first of four books I have read…written by Natalie. I would highly recommend each of them.

[Helen Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Police procedural tell-alls, and this book is certainly packed with case after case from Natalie's almost ten years in Sussex Police. She is 100% honest over these pages, and that stands out so clearly while she's narrating her successes and failures and her strengths and weaknesses. There's two things that marks this apart and different from the majority of others I've read, firstly she worked in many, many departments at nine different stations so her stories are vast and varied, secondly Natalie makes it clear from page one that she is a Christian. Being a Christian in the force is hard, constantly trying to find that balance between what she believes to be right for God and what she's facing day-to-day. The book is a real eye-opener and a young woman who certainly has had God's hand on her life. She's now left the force and is concentrating on missionary work. Well done, Natalie Vellacott, on a great service and having the conviction to change direction and follow God into the unknown. I'm sure one day you'll be greeted with the words, "well done good and faithful servant."

[Andy Smart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable and rare look into what it's like to be a police officer in the UK. I used to live in Hove Actually, Brighton and also worked in Crawley so it was of special interest. Very interesting detailed stories of the different situations the Author was in, especially as she works in a number of different departments. As we move through the book we are taken through the highs and lows of the job. The author also allows us to see an honest look at the various mistakes that happened on her time in the force and is not afraid to make fun of herself and her own shortcomings.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Natalie Vellacott first person account of her days as a Sussex police officer in South East England began with police training school and ended with her last assignment in the Worthing Response Investigation Team. This slim volume is peppered with case and interactions with the public and suspects. In the end, she left her childhood creaming of being a police officer and used her training to become a full-time Christian missionary in Asia.

[Robin Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third e-book [mobi.file] I won as part of a collection of several books written by the author through a giveaway she recently had on LibraryThing, and the following is my honest opinion.

Natalie Vellacott in this book has written a poignant memoir of this part of her life.

As a child she had been brought up in a Christian home with all of the appropriate values being ingrained into her being. However, when she became a teenager she had gotten corrupted by her “friends” and had moved away from the religious commitment she’d been following. Natalie eventually became a police officer, fulfilling a childhood dream.
We all know being a police officer is a job in which one cannot simply fulfilled its requirement of making sure the laws of the land are obey, they need to exhibit some sort of feeling and compassion with dealing with problems and issues the citizens are having to deal with. And it had been component of her job which brought Natalie back into the service of the Lord.

The only problem with this had been the more she became involved with her Lord, the more conflict between the responsibilities of her job and her increasing devotion to all of the Christian teachings she’s begun to follow, started to appear.

The biggest conflict she wound up having to deal with had been the one involving her participation in a peaceful protest against the annual Gay Pride Parade in Brighton. Since those police officers who were known to be gay were allowed to march in the parade during working hours and while in uniform, Natalie felt she could participate without any problems in the protest off-duty and in civilian clothing.

Unfortunately, she got found out and wound up having to face one of her superiors who advised her that her behavior was unacceptable as some of the public disapproved of her political views and that more over she had aligned herself with the homophobic population of Brighton; an action which created a discriminatory action of a job title which should show no discrimination at all.

At this point, given this and medical issue, Natalie had applied for a six-month unpaid leave of absence. During this time, she tried applying for other jobs but with no success. She returned to work but resigned a short time afterwards. The conflict between her job and her religious beliefs had become too great for her to continue working. So, right now, Natalie is totally happy and at east with herself and all of her religious beliefs, doing the missionary work she’s doing; and her writings can be attributed to the life she’s living now.

For allowing her readers into her personal journey of a return to her Christian roots, I’m happy to give Ms. Vellacott the 5 STARS she deserves.

[Jan Fallon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very enjoyable, written in a narrative style, day-by-day approach. The author writes very well, but the narrative style left me searching for the big moments. They are in there and a jewel to find. Several experiences and life choices the author shared were highlights, and well worth the read to applaud her will power to work in the police force of Britain, and her emerging convictions as a Christian.

[Mrvica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book provides a really entertaining and enjoyable read about what it is like to be a policewoman in the UK. Natalie is a good and skillful writer who knows how to keep her readers interested. She is very honest about everything she has been through, admitting her own mistakes and praising her colleagues when necessary.
Yet, there is an aspect of her writing which I found a bit annoying - a continuous reference to her faith. I have nothing against any religion, but since I didn't see this book as a religious one, I found her overstressing the importance of God a bit too much. And above all, as hard as I tried I could not understand her involvement in the protest. In my country, being a police officer carries certain responsibilities and accountability towards the public, not compromising oneself in such a way.
Still, I did like this book a lot and would definitely recommend it.

[Joan Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Planet Police by Natalie Vellacott. I enjoyed my stint as “shadow” police officer as I was very interestingly carried along with her on her job as police officer, and the many different episodes that she encountered.
The author wrote a book so well in connecting with her police experience that it also contained the elements that became her reason for changing her pursuit for a career in the police force to finally becoming a Christian missionary.
Natalie stated, “I had a good eye for things that “weren’t quite right.” Many times, it was when she continued to follow through beyond what seemed at the time where she should stop or take the normal routine. She instead followed her own gut instinct.
She followed her “gut instinct” where a man was impersonating his twin brother, but Natalie felt that something “wasn’t quite right” and had his fingerprints run that proved he wasn’t who he claimed to be. “He smirked at me and drawled, ‘Well, it was worth a shot, wasn’t it love?’ I stood dumfounded for a while as I thought how I had so nearly been duped into releasing him because he was so convincing and how he had snapped from one personality to another, as if someone had just clicked their fingers.”
Natalie saw a recurring problem with those who were arrested who kept breaking the law, and increasing the intensity of their criminal activities. She was especially touched when she saw the same group of young men that had started out with small misdemeanors that increased over the years until one of the young men was arrested for murder. She saw that there didn’t seem to be a proper system set up to help them resolve the reason why they committed the crime, to stop their lawless behavior.
The author saw the great harm done on society during her days on the police force and so desired to help make the change through legal restraint of the lawless.
When Natalie returned to the Lord, the change in her life began to show her a greater way of handling lawlessness. Whether dealing with individuals breaking the law of the land, or dealing with the wasted lives of people breaking God’s laws to sin. She gained her path to a greater understanding of why people needed more than physical constraint.
Natalie’s Christian calling to become a missionary had matured into a greater in-depth reason to leave all to become a missionary. She could finally address, in her words, “the root of the human problem which is always the same: sin. Therefore, the only true solution is also the same: Jesus.” Her final words in the book shows her Police experience was her spiritual refining on her path to becoming the Christian missionary her heart compelled her to become.
I really liked Planet Police by Natalie Vellacott Reviewer Joan Jessalyn Cox 5 Stars

[S.R. Piccoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raised in a Christian home in West Sussex, England, when she was seventeen Natalie Vellacott fell away from God and for the next five years she lived a worldly lifestyle until her conversion at age 23. In the middle of her “worldly period,” fulfilling a childhood dream she joined Sussex Police as an officer. Natalie gained experience in numerous departments—she worked, inter alia, with the Child Protection Team and the dreaded Professional Standards Department (what in the U.S. is referred to as Internal Affairs)—and was employed in several different stations.

Promoted to sergeant at 27, she started to find it increasingly difficult to be a Christian in a secular work environment. Thus she began to be involved in street evangelism during her free time. One Saturday Natalie was asked if she wanted to go to the neighboring town of Brighton to join some members from her church and other churches in the area to conduct a peaceful protest at the annual Gay Pride Parade event. Since other police officers—those who were known to be gay—were allowed to march in the parade during working hours and while in uniform, Natalie accepted the invitation. “As a Christian,” she writes, “I knew that the Bible teaches us to love people regardless of their lifestyle choices and behaviour. After the life I had lived, I couldn’t judge others, especially those that weren’t making claims to be Christian. I had supervised gay officers and one of my closest female colleagues was gay. I tried to treat people as individuals and to get to know them, rather than thinking of them in terms of their sexuality. However, an organised event such as Gay Pride specifically to celebrate this lifestyle was something different.” So, long story short, Natalie thought that there was nothing wrong with taking part in the protest off-duty and in civilian clothing. But she found out very soon that her superiors had other ideas… Not for nothing, shortly afterwards she quit her police job and became a missionary in the Philippines to help teenagers get off drugs and find Christ, as she herself recounts in her first book, They’re Rugby Boys, Don’t You Know?

Planet Police, in Natalie Vellacot's own words, “is by no means an exhaustive record of events throughout my service” that is a candid autobiographical account of her nearly ten years of service with the Sussex police. Without forgetting that, as any police officer will tell you, “enough things happen throughout a police career to fill many books.” The book is well-written, interesting and entertaining. I must say that I enjoyed it very much.

[Jill Rey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I chose this book because I thought it would provide an in-depth, firsthand look at the life of a police officer. My uncle recently retired from the local police force, and as such I was looking forward to discussing the encounters author, Natalie Vellacott, had versus what he experienced here in the U.S.

This book opened with a note from the author. This note detailed her religious beliefs and her path after the police force (missionary work). As a reader, I was EXTREMELY turned off by the religious tone of this note and thus began the book on a sour note. As I read on, particularly in the back half of the book, this sour taste returned with a vengeance. At one point, the author describes someone as “non-Christian,” for starters I was perplexed that a police officer would dole out such labels, but it was also painfully clear the author looked down upon “non-Christians.” It was also transparent she was not afraid to discuss her beliefs with her co-workers. Discussing beliefs with co-workers is fine on all accounts, but it is necessary for professionals to understand they represent their employer whether their uniform is on or not. Especially as a police officer, your actions outside of work are important, so when the author thought protesting was okay and even detailed her protest of a local gay pride parade I should have shut the book right then. I will admit I appreciate the honestly and vulnerability the author portrays in her book, but nonetheless people need to maintain respect, especially when you are an officer of the law. It is clear in her portrayal the protesting was unsafe, as police quickly asked her group of religious followers to leave.

Christian, non-Christian debate aside, this book was amateur at best. It read more like nonsensical ramblings of a friend in a pub. The stories were haphazard, jumped around in the timeline and were not fully formed. The encounters discussed lacked the background necessary to understand why they were important and stood out to the author, each seemed like something one would tell another co-worker in passing, not something worthy of an entire book.

Ultimately, this was not an enjoyable book, between the rambling stories and “non-Christian” discriminatory view point, I was left with a sour taste.

For the full review, please visit: https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordp...

*A review copy of this book was provided to me by LibraryThing, in exchange for an honest review.

[Ylva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Planet Police by Natalie Vellacott. The writing was good and made that book a quick I read. The stories and anecdotes from her job at the police were very interesting and funny at times. I also liked that the author had the chance to work in many different positions in the police. This made her experiences even more interesting to read. Additionally, I appreciated that she also included information on how her conversion to Christianity changed her attitude towards the job and also what led her to resign and sign up to be a missionary. I can't wait to read about her experiences as a missionary in her other books. I think it will be very much different than her experiences in the police force, but if they are written as entertaining as this one, I'm sure I'll enjoy them as well.

I would recommend this book to everyone who is interested in working in the police force (I think especially Christian teens that dream of becoming a police officers could really benefit from reading this book!) or who likes to read real life stories. It was really good.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.