THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES WINNING WAYS
The Commonwealth Games was the first large-scale event the special constables took part in since joining the Federation – and the biggest operation in the history of the West Midlands Police force
Special Constable Craig Batham
The West Midlands Police force was responsible for security throughout the Birmingham games, which ran from 28 July to 7 August, and the Police Federation of England and Wales played a major role protecting the welfare of its members during this massive operation, with Fed reps on hand 24/7. Welfare vans from
Norfolk, Humberside, Hertfordshire, North Wales, and Dyfed Powys were on hand to support officers. The West Midlands welfare van supported officers who were conducting the day- to-day policing of the West Midlands – these officers undertook 12-hour shifts to fill in for colleagues deployed to the games. Special Constable Craig Batham acted as liaison between Op Unity commanders and the special constables (SCs). Talking about SCs joining the Federation, he said: “I genuinely feel this is a good thing for the special constables. Our officers have the same powers and besides a few very specialist roles, special constables perform the same duties as regular officers and are exposed to the same risks. Having the support of the Federation will be a help to officers when they need it. “It was extraordinary to work at the Commonwealth Games. Don’t get me
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wrong but they were long days, as even on rest days I was sorting things for the following surge days. As specials, normally our rest days are for volunteering anyway.” Sharing his experience about helping deployment of a large number of special constables across the five surge days of the operation, he continued to say: “West
“The Special Constabulary has silenced a lot of critics who didn’t think so many of us would turn up and support the Commonwealth Games ”
Midlands really trusted me, James Deller and Bill Rollinson to do what was needed, and to make sure the deployment went as smoothly as possible for the officers who attended. “I absolutely loved the event, and it was great that my skills and experience were acknowledged and used by the regular Bronzes,” he recalls. “The camaraderie was phenomenal, and it seemed to finish in a flash, but the experience is something I’ll not forget.”
Throughout the event, Fed reps from across England and Wales offered support and advice to officers policing the largest event to be staged in Birmingham to date. “The biggest highlight for me, whilst
somewhat sombre, was the closing ceremony, and standing down at the end of the night,” Craig added. “This was because almost two years of planning had come to an end, and the Special Constabulary had silenced a lot of critics who didn’t think we would have so many SCs turn up and support the games as we did. There were more than 350 special constables providing support during the five surge events, and 140 on mutual aid. The other highlight was working with the team, as I did with James, Bill (Met SC) and Danni Walters from West
Midlands. They were fantastic and we gelled as a group.
“While I know there may have been some issues around joining the Federation due to who is paying the subs, what I would say is talk to your force, listen to what they can offer, not just the support around conduct and other things, but take the opportunity if you can. “To members of the public considering becoming a Special Constable, I say go for it. Whether you have an aspiration to see what it is like in the police before joining as a regular, or you want to give something back to your communities, or to learn a new skill, give it a go. The opportunities are endless.”
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