NEWS
Liz Lovell and her trusty steed.
POLICE ON HORSEBACK GET SIX TIMES ENGAGEMENT
Gloucestershire Constabulary has an operational mounted section again after nearly 70 years, and a sergeant involved believes they should make a comeback in other forces too. Liz Lovell has been with the unit
for two and a half years with her Chief Constable, Rod Hansen, who is the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for the mounted section, introducing a trial five years ago. Being a Level 2 public order sergeant
with a degree in equine science, Liz was a natural fit for the unit. It currently has two PCs and is in the process of training two more, with an equine manager and a groom for six horses. Liz said: “After the trial, a business case
was put forward for the mounted section to become permanent. As an operational unit, the horses go out patrolling daily and deal in all aspects of mounted policing from the night-time economy to missing people.” They have participated in public
order training with their neighbouring force, Avon and Somerset, and the unit has provided its first mutual aid during a protest in Oxford last year.
10 I POLICE I AUGUST 2021 Liz added: “The unit developed from
scratch in a very short time. The last time Gloucestershire had a mounted section was around 70 years ago but, as a county, Gloucestershire is renowned for its love of equestrian activities. Our Chief Constable is a huge supporter of the benefits of the mounted section nationally.” In addition to their regular duties, the
Gloucestershire horses are also being used to help young people who are not engaging with education or struggling with life to take part in Changing Lives with Horses, a programme that gives them the opportunity to develop new skills, opening new doors for them to
study or start careers. However, Liz believes the main benefit the police horses bring is around engagement. She explained: “When I say horses
break down barriers, they really do. People come out of their houses to see us and when we ask questions about ‘what’s it like in the community’ and ‘how are you finding it’ they open up. It’s difficult to measure the value of that, but a recent study by RAND and Oxford University showed a mounted unit can generate six times more casual engagement with members of public than a normal police officer on the street.”
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