An ex-bouncer with a reputation for defusing trouble despite his young age has spoken of his delight at becoming a police officer.
Malachi Dennis became a doorman at Slug and Lettuce, at Nottingham’s Cornerhouse, when he was just 18 years old.
Such was his record at de-escalating situations with his calm and friendly demeanour, he was promoted to head of security at the venue only eight months later.
Now aged 22, he has moved away from the door and into the streets having joined Nottinghamshire Police as an apprentice constable.
On Friday (18 March), he was among 16 recruits who passed out as police officers during a ceremony at the force’s headquarters in Arnold, having recently enrolled onto the force’s Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship programme.
“It’s a proud day,” he said. “I’ve aspired to be a police officer for a long time and I’m excited to get going.
“We did a night-time economy shift in Nottingham recently, which was really fun. I got to see some familiar faces from my time as a doorman!
“A few people who used to come into the Slug and Lettuce recognised me – I think they were bit shocked to see me in a police uniform.
“It was good they came up to me and asked me how I was. Hopefully having that rapport with locals will help me going forward as a police constable.”
