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Initially drawn to the role to question all he knew about policing and make a difference to his community, Chris Foulkes joined Northamptonshire Police as a Special Constable in 2014. Now, SC Foulkes speaks about the most rewarding aspect of the role and why it's taught him a lot about himself.
What motivated you to become a Special Constable?
Like many others who travel the UK for work, the most frequent place that I would see the police was on the roads, so I could understand the perception that every police officer is out there to catch speeding motorists and other driving offences. I also recall lots of local media reports on high crime rates and an alleged lack of police action at the time. I wanted to question all of this but I also wanted to see what I could do to support my community. I like to think that I’m not the type to just sit on the sidelines being critical, but someone who will actively get involved and help make change.
Rather timely to this, there was a recruitment stand at the local carnival and I picked up a leaflet to ponder over. Later that evening, I submitted my application and ten years later here I am, still with Northamptonshire Police.
What is a typical day like as a Special Constable?
I very much feel a part of the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) and feel at home in the station when I am on duty. Typically, I will email the NPT Sergeants when I am coming in to check for any taskings on area and when I am on duty I will prioritise those matters. Tasking could be to go and speak to a specific person(s) or general awareness of issues or events in the local area.
If I’m crewed with a regular officer, we will often follow up on their priorities or patrol area. When I am crewed with another Special, we will try to set out a few objectives at the beginning of the shift and the areas to patrol before we head out. We might go out on foot patrol or take one of the marked cars to patrol a wider area.
We are equipped with police issue phones and laptops which provide us with access to systems where we can conduct PNC checks on vehicles/people and submit intel logs amongst other things.
At all times we are contactable by the force control room and when out on patrol we become an available resource to deploy where needed just like a regular police officer. We will often “shout up” to support when we find ourselves nearby or if we discover an incident ourselves whilst out on patrol.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a Special Constable?
People are what makes the role most rewarding.
When you attend incidents and are able to offer those involved reassurance and support, you know they appreciate what you are doing for them.
Working for a national firm on multiple projects across multiple sites, the teams I work with come and go. As a Special Constable, I really do feel like part of the policing family and that extends well outside of when we’re on duty. I have some fantastic friendships within the police that I hope will outlive my policing career.
How do you balance volunteering your time as a Special Constable and your home/work/social commitments?
Most of my time as a Special is carried out over the weekends, however with NPT it is easy enough to come in mid-week of an evening for just a few hours and I do try to do that from time to time.
I also try to plan weekend shifts well in advance and ensure that family events always take priority.
How has Northamptonshire Police as an organisation supported you in your career?
I have seen a number of changes within Northamptonshire Police in my time as a Special Constable, and one in particular is the investment given by senior officers into the support and appreciation for the work carried out by the Special Constabulary. I have never felt excluded from anything and there are often events promoted for Specials to engage with, for example the British Grand Prix, Christmas drink drive campaigns, football duties, ASB patrols, warrants, and other training opportunities like MOE (method of entry), speed gun training, and driver training.
I go on patrol out of my neighbourhood station with a sergeant that is fully behind the Special Constabulary and work alongside a great team of regular police officers.
What is the most difficult thing you have had to deal with?
There is no getting away from the fact that some incidents stick with you and, without going into detail, I do recall one such domestic incident that made me question how and why some people are the way they are with such disregard for the hurt they have on others, including very young children.
I won’t allow the bad to overshadow the good and the experience serves as a reminder of how important the work the police do is – it really can be life or death and I will continue to do all I can to help protect people from harm.
Is there anything you have learnt about yourself?
I joined Northamptonshire Police at 40 years of age and without a doubt have learnt how little some of us know about the world we live in. I have been exposed to a world I simply never would have known existed until I became a part of it. That is not a bad thing, when we all understand each other better, we might all live in a more peaceful world.
If SC Foulkes's story has made you interested in becoming a special constable or you want to find out more, take a look at what it takes to join us or view all our volunteering opportunities.