A day in the life of a Special Constable

I am a Special Constable based at Exemouth Police Station and I have been in this role for nearly two years.

As a Special Constable I never know what to expect when I come on shift, and the variety of tasks I can get involved in varies each time I put on the uniform. I also work a range of shifts, and the below is just one example of what a "typical" night shift can look like.

1700 - I arrive at my base station to start my shift, check my kit is in order, put on my utility vest and book on duty.

1705 - The first part of my shift is the section briefing with the team including the response sergeant who chares the briefing. The sergeant goes through current intelligence and live incidents and will allocate call signs for the shift. Tonight I am crewed with a regular officer and we are allocated the call sign KE30 Lates.

1710 - The control room receives an emergency call that someone has smashed a window at a property and is still on scene. We head towards on an immediate response (blue lights and sirens) as we are the closest unit.

Upon arriving to the scene we start investigating what has happened. We make enquiries and someone on scene has owned up to smashing the window. I decide I have enough evidence to arrest this person on suspicion of causing criminal damage. We convey the suspect to custody and their detention is authorised by the custody sergeant. Back at the station I write my arresting officer statement and assist my colleagues by starting the handover file for the early shift who will interview the suspect in the morning.

1830 - We receive a call stating that urgent assistance is required at the train station. We jump in a marked police vehicle making towards the officers’ location on an immediate response. Other officers are also on route. All we know is that someone has been seen with a knife and that they are currently still on scene. On arrival they are found in possession of a knife and cannabis. They are arrested for possession of an offensive weapon and for possession of cannabis and we convey the suspect to custody. More incidents are coming in over the radio.

2100 - We finish up in custody and finish paperwork. It’s a Friday night, known as ‘dog watch’ so this is where two sections (lates and nights) overlap. It’s 2100hrs so the night turn section are now booking on. It’s time to head back to my base station and have our well-earned meal break! After all, it has been a busy shift so far!

2130 - We receive notification of a domestic incident to attend. There is mention that someone at the address is armed with a hammer. The Force Incident Manager (FIM) has assessed it suitable for Taser trained officers to attend given the information we have received that the person may be armed. My crew-mate is Taser trained so we start making way to the incident.

2230 - We finally break away from this incident and head back to the station. There is a bit of paperwork that needs completing for handover for the early shift the next day.

0000 - Finally we finish our paperwork and we head out into town on patrol. As it is a Friday night, pubs and clubs are still in full swing. We head out on foot and speak to some door supervisors where they report that they have thrown someone out who they believe has been doing drugs in the toilet. We do an area search but there is no trace for the suspect. We head back out into the town and speak with members of the public.

0030 - We receive a report of a concern for welfare of a suicidal male, and it’s been graded for immediate response by the control room. We are asked to head towards to location to help with an area search.

0115 - We are still searching for our missing male. This means all available resources are now asked to assist. The concern for the male is heightened and it’s important we find the male as soon as possible. We check the local train station and any bridges that are close by for the male as well as addresses. A short while later, they are found at his ex-partners address. Officers attend the address and complete the paperwork for the male to start getting medical support. We head back into Exmouth town on route back to the station as we near the end of our late shift.

0245 - We sign off duty and put our kit back in our lockers ready for the next shift. The response sergeant thanks us for our support this evening.

Devin
Special Constable