The typical duty of a Special Constable....

This log of a Special Constable’s ‘typical’ weekend was sent to me and I think it needs sharing.

Please, read on and consider this individual’s commitment to our county.

‘Firstly, there is no typical duty!

As a seasoned SC with 16 years’ experience I have worked alongside many great officers where one minute we could be sharing a brew but next be standing shoulder to shoulder facing abuse from the public.

Here is what happened on a weekend from Friday to Sunday.

The plan started on Monday with emails and phone calls from the neighbourhood team.

Throughout the week other SCs start to populate our duty rostering system so I could consider who might be crewed together.

Tuesday.

I met with our Inspector to discuss progress of our newer SCs along with other operational issues.

On Thursday I emailed colleagues about our weekend offering and awaited last-minute intelligence to disseminate to those who would be working.

Friday.

Two experienced team members worked the evening together in our secure van alongside Police Community Support Officers looking for anti-social behaviour hotspots reported to us.

Later the team supported the response officers at a job which developed beyond a neighbour dispute to missing teenagers under the influence of alcohol. This task took up the remainder of the shift which ran from 6pm until midnight.

Saturday.

The annual local agricultural show had requested the assistance of Special Constables.

These types of events are often welcomed as it gives the chance for positive engagement with the public whilst listening to their concerns.

We had eight SCs who worked 8am-8pm on this event.

My shift with another SC began at 4pm. My colleague was completing paperwork while I researched intelligence about uninsured drivers we would be looking for.

Soon we were deployed along with a traffic car to cows on a dual carriageway.

Next we noticed a car that had been circulated via our Force Control Room and notified colleagues.

Then we received details of an Immediate call (our highest priority) for a broken-down car in a dangerous area.

We attended and found a family on holiday and with their clutch broken. Everyone was distressed and the children hungry.

We pushed the car to a safe area, arranged recovery and took the family to our planned supper stop so they could formulate a plan.

Another Immediate call sent us to an address where a male was refusing to leave the property, then we checked on reported uninsured drivers but none were at home.

With rain hammering down and multiple reports of vehicles crashing on a near-by dual carriageway we were sent to assist.

Thankfully no-one was hurt but the road needed to be cleared. The Neighbourhood officers were two hours late going home.

Next we responded to reports of a prowler in someone’s garden. The situation scared the occupants and we arranged for them to stay in a nearby hotel.

We made it back to the station at 2am for a quick debrief and removal of equipment including body cameras. As a volunteer I don’t get paid and my expenses for the shift amounted to £16.94.

Sunday

Another experienced SC was out tonight with a preference of looking for drink or drugged drivers. He started at 8pm and hoped to finish at 2am.

It was another eventful night with a range of jobs but that’s what makes being a volunteer police officer so enjoyable.

We’re making a difference and helping you feel safer in your community.

Some people will read this and think we are mad, we probably are. It takes a certain type of person who is prepared to run towards danger when everyone else is running away, and still be able to get up the next day to go to their day job.

You may have heard that we are ‘hobby bobbies’ or ‘weekend warriors’, well I do not think that and I know that when I stand side by side with paid colleagues at that pub fight or at collision, they don’t think that either.

The teamwork is immense, yes we have a lot of banter, but ultimately we all work towards the same objective of protecting the public, helping people and yes, catching the baddies.

We don’t expect any thanks, it’s nice when we get it, but the main thanks should be for our wives, husbands and partners.

When will I give it up? Never, it’s a great band of brothers and sisters and I’m proud to have that Warrant Card in my pocket, helping to make Devon an even safer place to live and work.’