PFCC staff member becomes Special Constable under Employer Supported Policing Scheme
A member of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s team is supporting our commitment to more local, visible and accessible policing by becoming a Special Constable.
Nikki Essex, Restorative and Mediation Service Manager, will be patrolling the Chelmsford district, following her recent attestation.
Essex Police has the second largest Special Constabulary in the country and has the largest Employer Supported Policing Scheme following a sustained drive to increase the number of Specials Constables.
Under the scheme employers provide their staff time away from work and in return, their staff member can expand their skills, including First Aid training, leadership, and teambuilding, as well as becoming a Special Constable for Essex Police with transferable skills.
The PFCC has recently signed up to the Employer Supported Policing scheme and at a special ceremony Nikki officially swore the oath and received her warrant card.
Speaking after the attestation, Nikki Essex said: “It was something I’d been toying with for years and last year I did a ride-along with Kent Police and realised that this is something I really enjoy and wanted to do more often. I valued the team dynamic and variation in tasks each day. I just decided to go for it and apply.”
Her first shift as a Special Constable will be with the Local Policing Team in Chelmsford where she will be dealing with emergency calls. She will also have the opportunity to patrol with the Community Policing Team where she will be providing visible patrols and dealing with community related issues such as antisocial behaviour.
Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Jane Gardner, attended the attestation on Monday, November 23rd. Speaking after the event, she said: “We are hugely proud to have such a wonderful Special Constabulary. Every one of the officers provide a huge amount of value to Essex Police and their communities. They represent a valuable link between the police and the community and are really well integrated into our teams across the force. Nikki does a great job for us and will do a great job as a Special Constable and we are proud that she has chosen to make that commitment.”
In her role as the Restorative and Mediation Service Manager Nikki has developed a strong ability to be empathetic, tactful and to support victims. She is excited to utilise these skills to assist her in her new role and to learn from the more experienced officers.
Roger Hirst Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “Employer Supported Policing is a beneficial scheme that allows individuals to support the public and the police as Special Constables, whilst learning skills that they can transfer to their current employers. I am dedicated to increasing the strength of Essex Police and the relationship they have with the communities they serve and Special Constables are a valued part of that commitment. I encourage organisations to consider signing up to this beneficial scheme.”
Through the Employer Supported Policing Scheme, Nikki is allocated one day off per month to volunteer and help the public as a Special Constable.
Nikki added: “It’s definitely reassuring to know that the PFCC supports me in taking on this role and that means I can commit to an extra day per month, allowing me to give more back to Essex Police and utilise the new skills in the PFCC role. Having that support and flexibility boosts morale and naturally makes me want to give back more to both sides of the role.”
For more information on becoming a Special Constable , please visit the Essex Police Website.