Special Constable keeping you safe on Christmas Day

While many people are unwrapping gifts, enjoying a Turkey feast and spending time with family on Christmas Day, a special constable is putting on their uniform and heading out on duty.

SC Noah Wells is working tomorrow afternoon into the late evening, missing Christmas dinner with his family, to keep you safe.

Based in Digbeth, SC Wells works within our neighbourhood and response teams, responding to 999 calls, patrolling the local area, engaging with the community and Christmas Day will be no different.

He said: “Like every other day, you never know whether it’s going to be really busy. I wanted to volunteer on Christmas Day because crime doesn’t stop, just because its a celebrated holiday. People rely on the police over the festive period, and I just want to help those in need.”

SC Wells has volunteered with the force since January. First completing required training and then becoming operational in March. In that time, he has volunteered more than 1,500 hours alongside studying professional policing at university.

He said: “I volunteer alongside my university studies, ensuring my assignments are up to date.

“Working in a specific police team allows me to plan when I can do shifts and work alongside officers and staff who have been very supportive in my journey. They have made me the special constable I am today.

“I joined as a Special because it gave me the opportunity to go out into the community and meet different people from different backgrounds. In the West Midlands, we have fantastic diverse communities, and I have been able to meet and engage with lots of different people. I have also been able to protect communities from crime and build trust been the public and the police.

“I love being a special constable and I am hoping to join as a full-time officer, taking the skills I have learnt over the past year into an officer role.”

Based in Digbeth, SC Wells has also supported football games and provided mutual aid to other forces.

However, he recalls his most memorable moments are when he is on patrol in the community.

He said: “Sometimes a member of the public will stop to say thank you for our service and it reminds you why you are doing the job. You could have just attended a distressing call to service but hearing the public are grateful for you, makes everything worth it.”

Special Constables are volunteer police officers with the same powers, uniform, and equipment as regular officers.

Visit our website to find out more about our volunteering opportunties: Volunteering | West Midlands Police.