16 - Joanne Mackel: Becoming the Police Officer She Needed as a Child

Former Detective Sergeant Joanne Mackel joins us for a deeply personal conversation about her life, her policing career, and the decades-long search for answers surrounding her mum’s disappearance.

Joanne’s mother, Ann Law, went missing from Newcastle in 1973. Ann’s body has never been found, and it is long believed that she was murdered and buried by her husband — Joanne’s father, Gilbert Law. Growing up in the shadow of a flawed investigation, Joanne eventually pursued a career in policing — determined to be the officer she wished had been there for her family.

In this episode, Joanne shares her experiences as a child during her mum’s disappearance, her journey through serious crime policing as a Detective Sergeant, and the resilience, humour, and honesty she’s carried throughout her life. She also talks about the creation of Dig Up Your Mam, the six-part podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Julie Bindel, which documents her family’s story and her ongoing fight for the truth.

This is an emotional, insightful, and at times surprisingly funny conversation — a testament to Joanne’s strength and determination to keep her mum’s memory alive.

Content warning: This episode discusses domestic abuse, murder, and long-term trauma. Please listen with care.

To listen to the Dig Up Your Mam Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1SKF5zZTs1WM4hIARMhuIW

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