Rachael Jarman
26 | Special Constable based in Maidstone
Started in June 2011
Started in June 2011
I was at the same drugs op
as SC Ross Smith a few weeks ago in Maidstone.
Eight Special Constables went out with a drugs liaison officer and a police
drugs dog and we searched the queues of people waiting to get into the pubs and
clubs. After we’d completed some
searches and one person had been arrested, I was walking back towards the high
street when the drugs dog made a beeline for a man walking past. I stopped the
man and told him I was going to search him as the dog had positively identified
him as being of interest. He turned out his pockets and handed over a packet of
white powder, just like that! So I arrested the man and called for a van to take
him back to the police station and process him.
It was my first drugs
arrest. Working in the town centre, we usually deal with drunks and minor
disorder so taking part in a specific operation like that was really
interesting and it was a really good day.
For me, the best thing
about being a Special is meeting loads of different people. In this role, we
obviously deal with all sorts of people, offenders, victims and lost people.
I like to help people too.
Just recently, officers brought in a girl for drink driving and, as I was the
only female nearby, they called me down to search her. After putting her back
into her cell, she burst into tears. You have to be firm but also empathetic in
this role – she’d obviously committed a crime but was so distraught, I don’t
think we’ll be seeing her again.
Last night I was crewed
with my sergeant and our first job was to locate a man for breach of bail.
After attending two locations including the man’s home address, we ascertained
his story checked out so there was no need to arrest him.
We then attended another
report of three people causing a nuisance to an elderly man in Coxheath. After
speaking with the witness, we located three potential suspects and took their
details to be forwarded to the local PCSO to make follow up enquiries.
We then carried out high
visibility patrols in the rural area of Maidstone,
checking vulnerable cash machine sites and an industrial estate that had
recently been the target of a theft. We also checked out Maidstone
town centre and stopped two drivers for motoring offences. I gave them words of
advice as, in the circumstances, it was more appropriate to educate rather than
prosecute.
To find out more about the work of Specials in Maidstone, read my colleague Ross Smith's blog.
To find out more about the work of Specials in Maidstone, read my colleague Ross Smith's blog.
Online chat – watch the replay
You can watch a replay of last night’s online chat with Specials Co-ordinator T/Insp Guy Thompson.
Guy answered questions on
the recruitment process and training requirements.
