A POLICEMAN has received an award for his 'special' services to the force and community.
Divisional Officer Adrian Dodd travelled to London last week to pick up the Ferrers Trophy - a national award made annually by the Home Office to members of the Special Constabulary.
The award recognised the part-timer's contribution to the development of the Special Constabulary in North-wich and his impact on its role in community-based reassurance and problem solving.
Special Constables work alongside regular members of the police force on a part-time and a voluntary basis, doing much the same work as their permanent counterparts.
Joining the Special Constabulary is the ideal way for people who have other careers or commitments to become involved with the police force, and for Mr Dodd, who is based at Northwich, it offered a chance to explore a longstanding career interest while continuing in his profession, which is selling agricultural machinery.
Mr Dodd said: 'What instigated it was an advert that came on TV for the Special Constabulary; it harkened back to when I was leaving school and choosing a career path.
'Back when I was 16 I had fancied joining the police force so the chance to do something for the community and still have my own occupation appealed to me greatly.'
That was five years ago; now the 34-year-old, of Kingsley, is divisional officer, similar to the rank of superintendent in the regular force, and as such, he has charge of the development of some 40 other 'specials' in the area.
Though his reasons in joining were personal, Mr Dodd says the specials offer many rewards for civic-minded members of society.
He said: 'We all hear people groaning about the level of public disorder and other things that affect people's lives. I was one of them but I decided to do something about it, as does every other special police officer.
'Possibly it is the most public-spirited thing that you can do if you want to make a difference to the place you live and work with regard to the quality of life, public order and safety.
'It's very rewarding - when you sit back at the end of an eight or 10-hour police shift you think, 'Yeah, I made a difference to someone's life today'.'
Speaking of the camaraderie between specials and regular officers, Mr Dodd says there is mutual respect.
He said: 'We are trained to a very high standard and are equipped to the same level as regular police and to an extent we do the same duties - there is very little difference between us.
'They make us feel part of the service - there's no 'them and us' mentality, we are all police officers and are all out there doing the job.
And the Ferrers award ceremony, which was held in the environs of Westminster, is a perfect illustration of this regard, said Mr Dodd.
'It was fantastic to see seriously high-ranking police officers from across the whole of the country there with the sole intention of honouring Special police officers. I was very proud to be there.'
For information on the Special Constabulary go to www.cheshire.police.uk or call 01244 614026.
