Paula Craig

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Paula Craig

MBE
Paula Craig MBE British former detective.jpg
Craig in 2005
Born1963 (age 58–59)
Fishguard, United Kingdom
NationalityUnited Kingdom
OccupationPolice officer, motivational speaker
EmployerMetropolitan Police
Known forDetective inspector in a wheelchair

Paula Craig MBE (born 1963) is a British former detective, cyclist, former runner, paratriathlete and aspiring Channel swimmer. After she became paraplegic she continued in her career rising to the rank of inspector. She competed in the London Marathon and planned to take part in a relay swim of the English Channel.

Life[]

Craig was born in 1963[1] to Stan and Phyllis[2] in the Welsh port of Fishguard, where she was raised.[3] She was a keen triathlete. She ran the London Marathon in under three hours.[4]

In 2001, Craig had been a police officer with the Metropolitan Police for 15 years and was living in Hemel Hempstead. While training for the Triathlete World Championship, she was knocked off her bicycle by a car on the Redbourne Road (A5183). She became paraplegic[4] as her spinal cord was severed.[5] She recovered in Fishguard.[2][3]

The police made adjustments so that Craig could continue her career. Craig credits Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens for his support, as the police were not at that time subject to the Disability Act, which obliges employers in Britain to make reasonable adjustments for those with disabilities. (The police were included from October 2004.)[6] Craig returned to her career, rising to become a detective inspector working in the Metropolitan Police's Serious Crime Group.[6] She would surprise those involved with crime scenes, when junior officers would point out the person in charge and all they could see was a woman in a wheelchair.[7] She was awarded an MBE for her services to policing in 2005[4] and she won a paratriathlon in Honolulu.[1]

Craig returned to the London Marathon after the accident in 2001. She is said to be the first woman to have competed as a runner and as a wheelchair racer.[4] She finished third behind Tanni Grey-Thompson who had helped her prepare for the event.[2][3]


In 2020, Craig joined an attempt to relay-swim the English Channel. She is scheduled to swim for an hour at a time in rotation with other team members, adhering to Channel swimming rules, and she is said to be the first paraplegic person to attempt the crossing without a wetsuit. She became involved after giving motivational talks to Channel swimmers who repeatedly asked when she was going to swim it.[5] The swim is in aid of a British charity, involving a team of six swimmers.[5] They plan to begin on the neap tide of 16 August 2021.[5]

Craig served in the police for 31 years,[4] and has since become a motivational speaker.[8][9]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Union. "Results: AWAD Women Wheelchair - 2005 Honolulu ITU Age Group Triathlon World Championships". World Triathlon Championship Series. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Tanni coaches on winning formula". 4 October 2002. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Paula celebrates race triumph". Western Telegraph. 22 April 2003. Retrieved 26 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e May, Adam (7 July 2020). "The deadly Herts road cyclists fear that has left people paralysed". HertsLive. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d "Paula Craig MBE to become the first person with a complete Spinal Cord injury to swim the English Channel without a wetsuit". Aspire. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Police face disability culture change". 11 August 2004. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  7. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Saturday Live, Christian O'Connell". BBC. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Paula Craig MBE". liverpoolphil.com. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  9. ^ "An Insight into Paula Craig MBE - inspirational speaker : SL First Ltd". slfirst.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
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