DAWN WILKINSON

After leaving school at 16 I worked briefly on a YTS with horses qualifying for my level 2 to become a riding instructor.

I then joined the Army at 18 years old as a driver.

I drove many different vehicles from HGV, Staff cars with VIPs in and out of London including many Royal visits. I had to know all the routes via maps and taking in to consideration any ambush points along the way. I was always on a tight time schedule and being late was never an option.

I was also the Squadron coach driver, driving my colleagues all over the UK ensuring that they got to the destination safe and on time.

I served in the Gulf War in 1990.

This was a live war zone so I had to be alert, efficient and vigilant at all times whilst working in an extremely stressful and dangerous environment.

After leaving the Army due to getting married and having children I joined the MGS Ministry of Defence Guard Service.

In this role I worked alongside the armed MOD police securing and patrolling Military Camps. The main role to this was looking and checking for bombs. This was also a very stressful job and I worked under immense pressure a lot of the time but I always remained calm and professional.

My next career move was to the police in 2004 when I joined South Yorkshire Police as a Detention Officer working in Doncaster custody Suite at Doncaster Police station.

In this role I need to make quick decisions, be efficient and trustworthy with knowledge of the Law.

I have a very good knowledge of first aid and have used it many times.

Fire evacuation is also something I fully understand in this role as we have many training days and live exercises with in First aid, fire safety and self defence and restraints.

I can think on my feet and I feel this is a skill that is definitely needed as a Detention Officer. This is due to me possibly coming into volatile situations with prisoners. Quick thinking and levelheadedness are much needed.

I work for the public sector which is diverse. I regularly deal with individuals from many different cultures, religions, juveniles, people with disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health problems, addicts.

All these types of people come into Custody and I always make sure that I am fully aware of their needs.

I consider myself professional, caring, trustworthy and honest. I am also confident in my own abilities and consider myself an intelligent person. I work equally well as part of a team or individually.

I am always eager to learn new skills.

I am a very active person who enjoys the outdoors. I have always been into fitness and visit the gym almost every day. I do most classes including BodyPump, Body Combat and Spinning sessions.

For the past few years I have got in to camping so I bought a tent and off I went. The Lake District is my favourite place to go so that I can climb a mountain, Helvellyn being my favourite especially doing Striding edge.

I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie and have done 8 parachute skydives, this I did when I was in the Army and yes I did it for fun.

I love going away either holidays or just the weekends and I try to find something unusual to do, that being a Zip wire to swing from to riding a segway in Clumber Park Forest.

My favourite place to visit would be Las Vegas and if I could afford it then that would be a hobby too, however I have no idea how to gamble so I would never win the big bucks.

I like to think that I am interesting, intelligent, slightly funny with a sense of humour.

I know I can be passionate, loyal, caring and honest.