Life as a Special Constable - meet Russell
Three years ago Russell Blake took the leap and joined Northamptonshire Police as a Special Constable. Now a new father, SC Blake speaks about how he manages to balance his responsibilities as a Special with fatherhood and his career in retail.
What motivated you to join as a Special Constable?
I have always had a strong interest in the emergency services ever since I was a young child watching police shows on TV, and for a while I did think about joining the police. However, my career took a different trajectory and instead I ended up following in my dad’s footsteps and doing a business degree. My interest in serving the public and love of what the police do never left me though and learning about Special Constables from a friend gave me the idea that I could have my career in business as well as feed my passion for helping people and the community. I applied to become a Special Constable in 2020 and after passing the interviews and tests, I trained and attested in 2021 and have never looked back since.
How do you balance volunteering your time as a Special Constable with your work/home/social commitments?
With a role in retail it can be difficult to fit the minimum 16 hours in each month but I have always managed to do so thanks to building relationships with other Special Constables who are willing to take me out, as well as with Sergeants who were happy for me to join their team.
Back in February I became a father for the first time, so it has become a lot more difficult to manage my responsibilities. I have been asked multiple times whether this would be the end of my career as a Special and, to be honest, it is something I have had to think hard about. Thankfully, the Citizens in Policing team have been brilliant. All the contact I had was around congratulating me on the birth of my child and that I was getting any support that I needed. When I said I would try my best to get some hours in they were quick to tell me not to worry about it too much and to focus on my daughter. I am now back to doing my 16 hours a month and am loving it again.
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What is your proudest moment as a Special Constable?
My proudest moment as a Special Constable is perhaps not the typical answer you would expect but one that I still think is a vital part of policing.
As myself and a colleague pulled into a car park, a lady was getting out of the car next to us and I overheard her young child saying he didn’t want to get out of the car because he didn’t want to get arrested. On hearing this, I immediately got out of the car and went to chat to the lady and young boy about school and his hobbies to put him at ease. By the end of the conversation I had switched on the blue lights, shared a high-five with him and he went on his way. Not only did the boy have a positive, trusting experience with the police but his mother did too. While a big part of the job is catching bad people, serving the community and improving public perceptions is also very important.
What is the most difficult thing you have had to deal with?
On one of my first shifts, I went to a routine noise complaint that went downhill very quickly. At one point there was talk about taking three children away for police protection and the mother was in hysterics, crying and begging. It was an extremely stressful situation and was a very tough thing for me to be involved in that has stuck with me ever since. Thankfully, we were able to work together with the mother to sort out the issues.
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What would you say to someone considering joining as a Special Constable?
You have to do it for the right reasons. If you just want the feeling of power from “the badge” then it’s not right for you. If you think it’s just about driving around in fast cars, chasing and arresting bad guys then I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed. While there is an element of that, there is also a lot of paperwork, going to smaller jobs, and days when it’s not so busy. That being said, if you are happy to push through those times then it really is an amazing thing to do. You’ll see the genuine difference you make to the lives of the people you go out to in the community, and you’ll get a huge sense of purpose and accomplishment.
I couldn’t imagine not being a part of Northamptonshire Police now and I plan on being a Special Constable for many, many years to come.
Interested in becoming a Special Constable?
If SC Blake'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.