SPECIALS
CoV-2 in the lab, I was backing up regular colleagues enforcing the COVID-19 lockdown regulations. Opportunities to engage with the force’s CBRN (Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear) team have been discussed (particularly the ‘B’!). Our regular colleagues are the backbone of the force. Working primarily on response I have worked with fantastic colleagues who deliver the best service to our communities. I see the tremendous pressure to meet demand in both the NHS and police service. I am fortunate to have built rapport with my regular team that allows me to respond to calls alone, with regulars or with specials. The majority of regulars I have worked with are supportive of the Special Constabulary and grateful for our support. I only have been a special constable for nine years, but turnover on response and Operation Uplift means that I’m the longest serving constable on the team. When I joined there were no baseball caps, no body-worn video, no mobile data terminals, very few specialist officers carried Taser, and we used paper PNBs. Like technology, social media has developed. I am an advocate of transparency and accountability in policing, but ‘trial by Twitter’ poses a huge challenge for forces and officers. As a special inspector in a Force with no
other ranks before special chief officer, I was eligible for the Association of Special Constabulary Chief Officers (ASCCO) membership. I joined and voted in favour of expanding membership to all specials, resulting in its transformation to the Association of Special Constabulary Officers (ASCO). I’ve always been part of a trade
“I am an advocate of transparency and accountability in policing, but ‘trial by
union in my day job and was keen to join the Police Federation at the earliest opportunity. I would strongly encourage specials to join the Federation. I was the first special to join PFEW in South Wales Police. So far, I have attended the Federation’s ongoing webinars organised by Special Chief Inspector Laura Hart and Police Sergeant Nicky Ryan, who is also PFEW’s special constabulary lead. I am definitely looking to remain within the Special Constabulary, and I am fortunate to work in a force that offers amazing opportunities for specials such as roads policing. We even had a special detective constable who subsequently became a direct-entry detective. I am focussed on supporting frontline response policing, but who knows what opportunities the future will bring!
Twitter’ poses a huge challenge for forces and officers.”
If you’re a regular that hasn’t ever worked with a special, I would encourage you to reach out. You reap what you sow with volunteers, so investing time in specials pays dividends when you need us most. Reach out to SCs who may have fallen off the radar, ensure SC leaders are accountable for force priorities and take the opportunity to thank colleagues who have volunteered to assist. I would like to thank Chief Superintendent Belinda Davies, Chief Superintendent Steve
Jones and Superintendent Jason Rees for their support during my tenure as special inspector. I learned so much about the organisation and delivering change. Thank you to the Special Constabulary Management Board within our force led by Special Chief Officer Dale Cartwright and Special Superintendent Jason Coleman for their efforts, continuously developing our team and ensuring we can offer the best service to the force and communities. Finally, it would be remiss of me not
to thank all my fabulous Team Three colleagues in Cardiff City Centre led by Sergeant Tiago Mil-Homens.
If you are a special who would like to feature in a future edition of POLICE magazine get in touch at
editor@polfed.org
43 | POLICE | AUGUST | 2023
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
