Northumbria Police: Helping build stronger community relationships

What inspired you to become a special constable?

I’d always been interested in joining the police since my school years.

I joined the police cadets aged 13, and did my school’s work experience week at a local police station.

When I left school, I followed advice to gain some life experiences, which led me to several jobs and then a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree.

I had a family during all of this, and life took me on a journey that included the NHS rather than the police.

I volunteered as a COVID-19 vaccinator during lockdown, and was looking for other volunteering opportunities.

By chance, I stumbled upon a Northumbria Police campaign on social media, which was advertising opportunities to join as a special constable.

It ticked a number of boxes for me: it would get me out and about meeting people and it would give me the chance to fulfil my childhood dream without having to give up my career at NHS Business Services Authority, which I love.

 

What does an average day look like as a special constable?

There hasn’t been an average day.

There are certainly some common themes in the type of jobs I attend, but you really can’t predict what the next shift will look like.

Primarily, the role involves working in the local community, to help build stronger relationships with the police and the people we serve.

This can include reassuring communities by enhancing public safety and addressing difficult issues like anti-social behaviour.

There is a lot of reactive policing, reacting to 999 calls that might include things like theft, domestic violence, road safety and drugs and alcohol-related issues.

There are also lots of opportunities to join in with proactive police work, such as taking part in special operations that target criminal activities based on intelligence.

 

How do you balance your role as a special constable with your long-standing career at the NHS?

I’m fortunate enough to have an employer that is really supportive of volunteering.

As part of its strategy, it encourages employees to deliver a social impact by making long lasting, beneficial changes to the communities where we live and work.

I have to commit at least 16 hours per month to Northumbria Police, which works out at only two shifts per month.

This works well, not just with my day job but also with balancing my life at home, where I am a father and grandfather.

 

 

• Rob O’Neill complements his role as a Northumbria Police special constable with a career at NHS Business Services Authority

 

What new skills have you gained from being a special constable, and how have they been transferable to your professional role?

I’ve learned new skills and enhanced existing ones, like effective communication, problem-solving, decision-making and conflict and crisis management.

Dealing with situations that could be anything from a minor dispute to a serious incident has helped me develop effective conflict resolution techniques.

Furthermore, interacting with people from diverse backgrounds has improved my ability to communicate more clearly and empathetically.

Making quick and informed decisions under pressure is a key skill for special constables, and our training is based fundamentally on a tool called the national decision model (NDM).

This can be transferred to professional roles like mine, for tasks such as risk and benefit analysis.

Leadership is something police officers at all levels have to demonstrate.

When you are first on scene, you have to be able to take control of that scene and the people around it, sometimes working effectively with other emergency services.

Leadership qualities, being able to take control, working well with others and recognising their qualities and contributions are key to being a good police officer and also, in my case, an NHS manager.

 

What has been your most rewarding experience as a special constable?

I’m 54, and really thought my childhood dream of joining the police had passed me by.

So just getting through the recruitment process and attending my attestation was one of my proudest moments – although not forgetting the oath of allegiance in front of the magistrate was a little scary.

Since becoming operational, it has been the little things, like the elderly couple who feel safer knowing we have been out to see them, and the parents of a missing child that has been returned back home to safety – the jobs where people say thank you.

 

 

How do you find working alongside other officers and staff as a volunteer?

I tend to volunteer with the same rota.

This allows me to get to know the officers, sergeants and inspectors better than I would if I spread my time across several rotas.

My contact time – 16 hours per month isn’t a lot – but the team have been first-class; everyone I’ve worked with has taken the time to understand more about me personally and where I’m at on my police journey.

I really feel valued and appreciated when I turn up for duty, and always get a thank you when I leave.

 

What advice would you give to someone in a full-time career who is considering becoming a special constable?

If it is something you want to do, go for it.

The rewards far outweigh the contribution of hours you put in, and I’m not sure you could get the same wide-ranging experiences from any other voluntary role.

If you have a family, though, make sure they are on board; ultimately, it is time you are taking away from them, so they need to be on side.

And check with your employer that it will support your application.

Finally, don’t expect to be on patrol next month; the application process can be lengthy and depends on a number of variables, such as the date of application and pre-appointment checks.

This is then followed by an 18-week training programme, which includes weekends, so is something you must be fully committed to.

 

• To find out more about becoming a volunteer police officer, visit the Northumbria Police website or click this link

   

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