Paul Cooper

Pocket Sergeant

Paul is the founder of Pocket Sergeant, one of the UK's leading policing platforms, supporting tens of thousands of police officers, staff and legal professionals with practical digital tools used every day across the UK.

During his time as a frontline police officer, Paul became increasingly frustrated by how difficult it was to access legislation, guidance and operational information when officers needed it most. Determined to solve the problem, he opened Microsoft Word and began sketching out his vision. The designs were laughably bad but they captured an idea he believed could make a genuine difference.

With no technical background, no investors and no guarantees of success, Paul invested his family's savings to bring Pocket Sergeant to life. What began as a simple idea has since grown into an award-winning platform that continues to support policing across the UK.

As the platform grew, so did the challenges. Faced with a career-defining decision, Paul chose to leave the police service and dedicate himself to building Pocket Sergeant full-time. A leap of faith that would ultimately change the course of his life and shape his journey as an entrepreneur.

Alongside Pocket Sergeant, Paul hosts the Pocket Sergeant Podcast, featuring current and former police officers, legal professionals, subject matter experts and people with lived experience. Together, they explore policing culture, leadership, mental health, criminal justice reform and the innovations shaping the future of policing.

Paul is also the author of two books. From Trauma to Triumph shares his journey from a difficult childhood in foster care, through frontline policing, to becoming an entrepreneur. Sh*t Magnet offers a candid, often humorous, collection of stories from life on the frontline. Fittingly, From Trauma to Triumph was inspired after attending Ideas Fest as a delegate just two years ago, making this year's invitation to speak a genuine full-circle moment.

Paul is passionate about challenging convention and proving that innovation doesn't have to come from large organisations or big budgets. Sometimes it starts with one person, one frustrating problem and the determination to do something about it. His story is one of resilience, risk, reinvention and the belief that the biggest opportunities often begin where others see only obstacles.