Special Constable Rendall

Outside of volunteering as a special, I am a Local Government Officer.

Have you undertaken any specialist training with the Special Constabulary (SC)?

I am part of the SCRPU team (SC Roads Policing Unit), which consists of 18 officers who focus on the fatal four@

1. impaired driving
2. speeding
3. seat-belts
4. mobile phones

and respond to incidents on the strategic road network across Kent.

I have undertaken a number of training courses, including:

• Speed Gun
• FIT (Field Impairment Test)
• Intox machine
• Road Incident Management (RIM)
• First Responder First Aid

I have also completed various mandatory training.

What skills have you developed and value the most?

I have gained a wealth of experience and knowledge during the 15 years that I have been a special and through all the training that I have undertaken. I think first aid is something that everyone should have a basic knowledge of, as you never know when you might need to use the skills and the difference that you could potentially make.

Why did you choose to join the Special Constabulary?

I was interested in finding out more about the role of a police officer and becoming a special provided the perfect opportunity to do so, alongside developing the career pathway that I had chosen to pursue.

How have you benefitted from being a special?

Being a special has provided me with a great sense of achievement. Every day is different, we meet a wide range of people and undertake a variety of tasks. Much of the work is very rewarding but there are tough times and difficult situations that we face, however, I get a great deal of satisfaction from knowing that I am doing my best to help others and have a positive impact. The team that I work within are very supportive of each other and I have made some good friends through becoming a special.

How has your employer benefited from you being a special?

You never stop learning in the role as a special. I have developed my skills, many of which are transferrable to the workplace, including teamwork, overcoming challenges, improved confidence, communication, and leadership skills.

Do you continue to be a special for the same reason as why you joined?

The main reasons that I am still a special are down to the fact that I have gone into a specialist team (SCRPU), and it’s also down to the people who I work with in the team. As mentioned previously, they are supportive, there’s a great team spirit and I’m proud to be part of a high performing team.

You mentioned about first aid and its importance. Do you have an example of where you've had to utilise your training?

It’s knowing what to do, and at times what not to do. For example, a driver in a road traffic collision (RTC) who had a suspected broken collar bone; my training was more about support, making sure they were as comfortable as possible, keeping them still and reassuring them.

I also attended the scene where a runner was knocked down by a car. I was first on the scene with my crew mate. Sadly, the runner had life threatening injuries, but they did survive for another three weeks which gave their family time to see them. I used my first aid knowledge and skills and did my best given the situation that I faced. As a runner myself, this incident will always stick in my mind.