Awards-winning Specials tell us why they love volunteering

If you’re looking for a unique and rewarding volunteering experience, then being a Special Constable is hard to beat.

Specials have the same powers as regular officers and can serve in every unit across the force apart from Firearms.

We have the second biggest Special Constabulary in the country with more than 450 serving officers who dedicate at least 16 hours a month to policing alongside their work and family commitments.

Our Specials’ outstanding work was celebrated recently at their annual awards ceremony and three of the winners – Chris Gliddon, Anthony Phillips, and Alex Colbear – told us why they love spending their spare time working alongside regular officers to help members of the public.

Special Superintendent Chris Gliddon has been a volunteer officer for seven years and combines it with his full-time job at our training college.

Chris was the biggest winner at the awards night as he took home the Chief Officer Award and was part of the teams who won Team of the Year and the Salter Cup.

He believes anyone considering becoming a Special should make the leap and join.

He said: “You will have experiences you will never be able to have in any other volunteering opportunity. It will develop you a person, you will see thing you’ll never see anywhere else, and most importantly you’ll be able to help people and really make a difference to policing in Essex.

“I don’t think people realise how much Specials can do. When people understand the powers we hold, the opportunities we offer in Essex they’re really surprised.

Colchester Special Constable Anthony Phillips works an emergency ambulance crew member as a day job and he won the Norman Dooley Trophy for Meritorious Conduct after his quick-thinking actions helped save lives on consecutive days.

Anthony was on police duty when he was called to a fatal car accident on the A12.

The driver and front passenger had both sadly died but Anthony took control of the scene and  performed lifesaving first aid on the two rear passengers.

The very next day, despite being offered the day off, Anthony was first on the scene after a young person suffered a cardiac arrest.

Anthony now hopes to become a full-time regular.

He said: “I can help people, I can catch bad guys, I’ve loved every moment I’ve spent at Essex Police so far as a Special.

“If you’re thinking about it, I’d say 110% join the Specials, it’s the best thing you’ll ever do.

“Specials are integrated into almost every single part of policing, and it’s phenomenal the hard work that we all put in as a team.”

Special Constable Alex Colbear is chef at a restaurant in Leigh-on-Sea and was voted Student Officer of the Year.

Alex wanted to sample life as a police officer before deciding whether to join the force full-time.

He said: “I was looking for route in to join the regulars but wanted to try before I bought!

“I absolutely love it, I love it to bits. Between September, when I attested (joined), and March, I clocked up nearly 700 hours. I was doing two to three shifts a week.

“I’m so glad I joined. It’s so rewarding, and it looks great on your CV if you don’t want to join up as a regular. The shifts take you under their wing and you make a lot of great friends

“I was in two minds about joining but I’m so glad I did.”

 

Do you have what it takes to protect and serve Essex?

Head to our Special Constabulary page and find out more about how you can help keep people safe in your local community.