What drew you to the world of criminology?
When I was about 8, my dad gifted me all of his old paper back Agatha Christie novels. I read every one of them and fell in love with the murder mystery genre. One of her most popular characters was Hercule Poirot, an ex-Belgian policeman turned detective. I joined the police force because of him and never looked back. I have now gifted those paper back novels to my three children, I love when I walk past their bedrooms and see them curled up in bed, immersed in the world of Agatha Christie.
What made you want to join the Hunted team?
Hunted Season 2 saw me and my family glued to our couch, we loved the premise of the show and I immediately sided with the Hunters. I’m a Melbourne girl and thought my knowledge of the suburbs and parts of regional Victoria could bring value to the Hunter team. I also believed my background and experience in law-enforcement and security could value add to the already rich skill set the other Hunters bring each season.
Was the experience what you expected? What surprised you the most?
I didn’t realise how authentic and raw my emotions would feel as you ride the roller coaster that is Hunted! Each avenue of enquiry that proved fruitful, each capture was pure elation. Every time the fugitives’ evaded capture was flattening and frustrating. It wasn’t what I expected, it was better. Long days, good old-fashioned police work, mixed with innovative and progressive techniques made the experience so rich and exciting.
Could you predict most of the fugitive moves or were you still taken by surprise in some instances?
The majority of fugitive pairs in Season 3 were impressive. Their strategies were sound, confident, and they were also prepared to take risks that paid off. In some instances, fugitives subconsciously and unwittingly were formulaic by nature, so their patterns became evident and eventually, became their undoing.
Has being part of Hunted influenced your approach to surveillance?
One of the most rewarding things about being on the show was working closely with the Cyber CX ethical hackers. Their skills and ability to ‘find things’ was outstanding. Incorporating my world of Intelligence and the cyber team’s expertise, created a platform whereby information was transformed into meaningful intelligence within minutes. This hybrid model of confirming and corroborating valuable data expedited the art of surveillance. Collaboration and teamwork, and merging two fields of expertise is the key to successful hunting.
What skills and qualities do you believe are most important for someone considering a role in surveillance or investigation?
If you’re not patient, forget a career in Surveillance. Balance this with the ability to pivot and move to ‘plan B’ within a matter of seconds and you have the first two attributes of a solid surveillance operator. Focus and attention to detail are essential qualities, likewise, knowing your target and their habits pays dividends. Identifying patterns of behaviour assists getting ahead of the subject and working out their next move before they make it!
What are some of the biggest challenges you face during a surveillance operation?
When a fugitive (target) is willing to operate outside of their baseline behaviour, it becomes almost impossible to track them down. Going to ground, living off the land and removing themselves completely from their network of friends and family, makes the job of the surveillance operative challenging. A starting point is required to commence tracking the target. Where do you begin if you have no start line?
