Police Constable Sean McHale

Airports can often be a whirlwind of stress and chaos. Hurried travellers, long security queues, and the constant rush to catch flights. Among this frenzy, one calming presence stands out, Police Constable Sean McHale.

Since September 2007, Sean has been a steady and reassuring presence at Stansted Airport. His hard work with Essex Police and his role in Project Servator show how active policing can help make the airport safer and more welcoming for everyone.

Career inspiration

Sean's journey into policing was inspired by his strong sense of right and wrong, a value instilled in him from a young age. His move to Essex Police in 2007 was a pivotal moment, offering him unique challenges and rewards of airport policing.

"I come from a military family, which is why I joined the army right after leaving school at 17. After my time in the army, I worked for the British Government in Hong Kong. After that, I decided to join the police in 2004.
"When I moved to Essex Police in 2007, I got the chance to work at Stansted Airport straight away. Being an airport officer is one of the best jobs in Essex Police. The work is incredibly varied, and you get to learn so many different skills.
“Besides being trained for Project Servator deployments, we have other specially trained officers who are experts in areas like drone piloting, counter-drone operations, protest removal, working at heights, firearms, and much more. It's an amazing opportunity to grow in different skills and make a real difference."

Project Servator

Since 2015, PC McHale has been involved in Project Servator. It's a policing tactic designed to prevent a range of crimes, including terrorism, while helping people to feel safe. Project Servator focuses on being proactive and building strong connections between the police and the community.

"Project Servator is an important policing strategy designed to enhance security and counter terrorism efforts while maintaining public confidence and trust. But it’s not just at the airport. We have specially trained officers who deploy right across Essex."

The strategy relies on unpredictable and highly visible police deployments, creating a network of vigilance through businesses, community partners, and the public. The tactic uses a range of police resources like dogs, armed officers, CCTV, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and much more. This effort creates a challenging environment for potential criminals and terrorists to operate in. Project Servator officers are specially trained to spot signs of hostile reconnaissance, which is the information gathering that might help someone commit a crime.

"Project Servator officers use their skills and tactics to find wanted people, missing individuals, and persons of interest in all sorts of cases. They also spot suspicious behaviour, keeping an eye out for anything unusual, to help keep everyone safe."

The joys and challenges of policing

Sean has enjoyed learning new skills in different areas of policing, like using drones and tackling human trafficking, which makes his job really interesting. Even though the work can be tough, he stays committed and finds purpose in helping keep people safe every day.

"Transferring to Essex Police was the best decision I’ve made in my policing career. I really enjoy the unique challenges of working at Stansted Airport. One day I might be dealing with a shoplifter, and the next I’m helping hundreds of passengers board a flight that’s been diverted due to a terrorist threat.
"Over the years, I’ve supported all kinds of people. From stranded passengers who’ve had their luggage stolen to victims of really serious crimes like sexual assault and human trafficking.
"Every day, I see my team working incredibly hard to keep people safe. There are so many acts of bravery and kindness that often go unnoticed. Officers staying late, giving up their time, and going the extra mile to protect others. They face every challenge head-on, and it’s their dedication that truly makes a difference. I couldn’t be prouder to work alongside them."

Advice for those considering a career in policing 

Sean believes that certain qualities are essential for anyone thinking about a career in policing.

"A career in policing isn't for everyone. My advice - do your homework. Becoming a Special Constable is a good way to get a feel for exactly what's involved. You need honesty, integrity, determination, adaptability, patience, empathy, and most of all, kindness."