Suffolk police volunteers runners up at national awards
A team of volunteers from Suffolk Constabulary were runners up at a national award ceremony for police volunteers.
The force’s transport services volunteer team were shortlisted among over 170 other nominees for the Lord Ferrers awards for Police Support Volunteer team of the year.
The team were shortlisted for their voluntary work during the pandemic for their efforts to ensure operational policing needs were still met despite the lockdown.
They increased their hours of availability to accommodate a variety of important tasks. These included ensuring collection and delivery of vehicles that needed maintenance or MOTs and distributing essential vehicle parts to garages. They also undertook the distribution of critically essential PPE to front line officers and staff around the county and, if necessary, also delivered bulky office furniture to members of staff working from home.
Citizens in Policing Manager Karen Harris said: “Without any question of doubt, these volunteers indirectly played a pivotal role in keeping the wheels of the force, metaphorically and literally, turning.
“They are the unsung heroes who went about their normal tasks irrespective of the risks posed by Covid. This often resulted in hundreds of miles being travelled each day, but their efforts crucially allowed our operational officers to remain on the front line rather than having to drive vehicles in for repair.
“They consistently went over and above what was expected of them and never once complained or questioned their remit thus providing our Constabulary with an outstanding voluntary service.”
The nomination/award comes after the force were recently praised in a recent inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary rated Suffolk Constabulary as ‘good’ for building, supporting and protecting the workforce. It was one of six ‘good’ ratings the force received out of 10 areas of policing in the 2021/22 report
Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner said: “A massive congratulations to Jim, Steve, Peter and Graham for reaching the final of the Police Support Volunteer Team of the Year award. The Lord Ferrers Awards acknowledge outstanding contributions to volunteering in policing and I am pleased to see this team’s dedication recognised in this national award.
“The contribution that volunteers make to policing in Suffolk is absolutely remarkable. Volunteers play an important part in our policing family, and we are indebted to them for their unstinting commitment and enthusiasm. I personally think every single one of our police volunteers deserves an award, their contribution to policing is priceless.
“It is so important we celebrate the good work of those who have gone the extra mile to provide exceptional service and on behalf of Suffolk residents I congratulate the PSV transport service team members on their success.”
If you would like to join as a volunteer there are many opportunities available such as joining as a Special, a police staff volunteer, for the Appropriate Adult Scheme or as a Police Cadet. All the details and how to apply can be found here>
Volunteers | Suffolk Constabulary
More details of the Lord Ferrers Awards that were held at Lancaster House in London can be found here> Lord Ferrers Awards 2022 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Awarded annually, the Lord Ferrers Awards recognise outstanding contributions to volunteering in policing and are open to a wide range of policing volunteers across 11 individual and team categories.
