Cutting the Lines

I have written this because children are murdering children and we have to make it stop. 27 years policing experience has led me to believe we can do better. Knife attacks and murders involving children and young people have become so commonplace that we are becoming desensitised to it as a society. We are far less shocked with each subsequent incident. We need to stay shocked. We should be outraged. Contained within this book are candid and revealing real life stories. Uncovering behind the scenes experiences, from those affected by knife crime and exploitation across County Lines which challenge us all to rethink. The solution isn't a quick one and it means cultural change, but we can start today. I want my voice to be heard, my message understood, and most importantly, I want the violence and sadness to stop.

Dina was born in North London and raised along with her younger sister by her mother, a nurse and single parent. After working as the first female BT Construction engineer in London, Dina joined the police at the age of 27. She wanted an interesting and empowering career and one where she could do good and help those in need. Working in two police forces , Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire , her career took her from Response policing to Neighbourhood, CID and Offender management ,working also as a chaperone to victims of sexual assault and trained in interviewing vulnerable witnesses. Always having a strong interest in Crime Prevention and Community Cohesion, in 2024 she received the Community Award from Corby Town Council and also Northampton Town council for her pioneering work on the Force's CIRV Programme (Community Initiative to Reduce Violence Unit). Creator of the MYBKYD (My back yard) initiative, highlighted as promising practice in HMICFRS Peel Report 2024'Retiring in 2024, Dina wrote this book as she wanted to share what she had learnt about what worked and what didnt in terms of supporting young vulnerable people out of crime and to give the next generation of police a better place to start from. She also wanted to give an insight into what it means to be a police officer today and start conversations on how policing can move forwards and public confidence be raised. Dina has three adult children and lives in Devon with her partner Adam, two dogs and two cats.