Wigan teacher swaps the classroom for street patrols as part of volunteer police role

Specials Sergeant David Rudd of GMP's Wigan District, is the Head of Design and Technology at Hindley High School. Since the lockdown period began, he has swapped classroom patrols for Covid-19 patrols on the streets of Greater Manchester, dedicating his time to his role as a Special Sergeant.

David has given over 173 hours over the past few weeks, and his daughter also volunteers as a Special for Merseyside Police.

He said: “I wanted to volunteer as a Special to use my experience as a teacher and parent to help the public and also for personal development to expand my knowledge, and do something for the good of my local community.

“I have been setting my pupils work from home, so this has given me much more free time which I have been able to dedicate towards the privilege of supporting my colleagues at GMP.

“I will always be grateful for the opportunities I have already been given during my time as a volunteer. These include passing various driving qualifications and assisting on a firearms trainer’s course. I have benefitted by learning from the incredibly dedicated people I work alongside. GMP has given me more opportunities than I ever anticipated, and I would say to anyone thinking of doing it, just do it, you won’t regret it!”

The Special Constabulary at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is made up of volunteer officers who give up their spare time to assist with policing across local communities.

The volunteer officers are known as Special Constables and are a vital part of the police service, helping to prevent crime and interacting with the diverse communities across Greater Manchester.

Specials undertake five months of training before they are attested and given their police authorities, which are the same as a regular police officer, including warrant of arrest. Training then continues for 12-24 months, until they are signed off as ‘Independent Patrol’ qualified.

The minimum requirement for the volunteers is 16 hours a month and many fit this in alongside full time paid employment. Since the COVID crisis, the Specials of GMP have gone above and beyond, donating on average 17 hours a week. The total weekly commitment from GMP’s Specials equates to 50 full time officers; a monumental effort from all involved.

Chief Superintendent Stuart Ellison said: “The skills and experience that Special Constables often bring are invaluable to GMP. They play a vital role in policing Greater Manchester and helping build relationships, which only makes our communities stronger.

“Each recruit has their own personal reasons for volunteering, and it’s always great to hear how each Special wants to make a difference.

“The fact they volunteer in their own time is commendable, and it’s great to see their dedication and commitment to supporting GMP, and even more so during these uncertain times. The hours and dedication since lockdown commenced is commendable, and the support they are providing is invaluable.”

Chief Officer of the GMP Special Constabulary Mike Walmsley said: “Specials wear the same uniform, attend the same incidents and face the same risks that paid colleagues do. In the current climate, you could understand people not wanting to put themselves on the frontline. What we have seen from our officers is a consistent commitment to serve our communities, regardless of the risks and continue to help keep our local communities safe.

“It is humbling to hear the difference that our officers have made, and the significant amount of hours of their own time they are giving up to support colleagues in these uncertain times. Whether this is through positive engagement with the public, arresting people who are still intent on committing crime or attending COVID related incidents.

“I would also like to recognise the families of our officers, who without their support, may have struggled to volunteer such a high amount of hours.”

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