I NEGOTIATE TO SAVE LIVES

Nicky Perfect, 54, has been in some terrifying situations with her job

It was the early hours one morning when I got the call and raced to the scene a tree overhanging one of the busiest railway lines in and out of London. Usually, there wasn't anything remarkable or dangerous about this tree. But this morning, there was a young man sitting in it, putting his own life at risk. The man, who was in his mid- to late-20s, had been chased from a burglary and had climbed the tree. Now he was sitting precariously on a branch 30ft up balancing right across the track.

I was there as a hostage and crisis negotiator coordinator, and it was my job to save him. It was a race against time not just in terms of negotiating with him, but also because I knew that turning off the electricity of such a busy railway line would cost the railway company thousands.

FACING CHALLENGES

I was in charge of a team of negotiators, linking in with the incident commander on the phone, and using all the skills I had about the power of communication to save his life. Because if the man jumped or fell onto the track, he would die.

I worked tirelessly for 13 long hours, along with the team, until finally he came down safely. Job complete, but most importantly, a life saved.

I haven't always been a hostage and crisis negotiator. At just 18 I became an officer in the Metropolitan Police. I loved my job and my career became my life.