What is your current role at Leonardo?
I am a Product Cyber Resilience Manager in Leonardo’s Radar and Advanced Targeting business. I work in the Design Integrity Department within Product Security, assuring the security posture of several projects. The role is incredibly engaging, with lots to think about and consider, meaning no two days are ever the same, which keeps things fresh and interesting.
What is a 'Special Constable'?
Special Constables are fully warranted Police Officers, with identical Powers of arrest, Uniform and Equipment as their regular counterparts but are volunteers who give up 16+ hours of their spare time per month to carry out Policing duties in their community. (though many do significantly more hours)
What is the role of a Police Special Constable?
I am a Special Constable within the Roads Policing Unit of Northumbria Police Operations Department which is a specialist role. The team I work with is responsible for policing the entirely of the roads network in the Northumbria Police area ensuring timely investigation of collisions alongside education of drivers, enforcement of the law and positively impacting driver behaviour.
I come from a family of cops – my stepfather was a detective, my mother was a detective, my great-grand father was a high-ranking officer in what used to be Tyneside Police. I always wanted to become a police officer but found a great career in Cyber Security and becoming a Special Constable was good way to live the best of both worlds.
I am the only Special in Northumbria whose collar number begins in a 9. Every other Special has a collar number beginning in 4, 5 or 6 The reason for that is that my mam’s collar number with the Force was 8185. That was already in use but 9185 was available and I was allowed to take it. It’s amazing really, as I’m the next generation and wear almost the same collar number that my mam did all those years ago.
As with regular Roads Policing Unit officers, I work single crewed supporting the department by dealing with calls for service and incidents on the roads network, I carry my own workload ensuring that what I pick up, I can deal with and I have worked incredibly hard to become a trusted and competent member of the Roads Policing Unit. I get a huge amount of satisfaction from the fact that I am helping to keep the road network safe.
How has Leonardo supported you in your commitments as a Police Special Constable?
Leonardo has a flexible working policy which allows me to shift my start or finish times to align to policing duties, court appearances or community engagement events which assists greatly but the main support that Leonardo offer those who volunteer as policing officers comes from the fact that Leonardo has an incredible “Employer Supported Policing” (ESP) offering. ESP is a national scheme owned by the Home Office. It is a partnership benefitting employers, their staff and the police service by releasing Special Constables and Police Support Volunteers to volunteer in the communities they serve.
Because of ESP, I have been able to advance my career with Northumbria Police at an accelerated rate. Even though I have only 4 years of service, I am able to complete many more shifts than are required of me and through ESP, I have been able to attend career development courses to improve my deployable effectiveness as a Roads Policing Resource.
Some of the courses I have attended are:
- Standard Response Driving - responding to calls for service on Blues & Twos
- Initial Phase of Pursuit – Safely pursuing vehicles that are failing to stop for police
- Stinger – Operation of the stinger device to deflate the tyres of vehicles that fail to stop
- Method of Entry – Safely forcing entry to property
- Breathalyzer and Drugwipe – Trained to lawfully administer roadside breath and saliva tests for suspected drink and drug drivers
- TruSpeed & TruCam speed enforcement devices
This is alongside the usual training that Special Constables get for roads and response policing.
Without an ESP offering, this pathway would have taken me significantly longer so the benefit is significant and Leonardo has one of the most generous ESP offerings I have seen.
What skills have you learnt from your Police Special Constable role that you have been able to transfer into your professional career at Leonardo?
Most of the skills that are transferable are non-tangible soft skills including increased confidence in dealing with volatile situations, analytical skills, investigative skills but the main ones that I draw upon in civilian life, which I feel I have been equipped with, is personal and professional resilience and a vehement desire to complete any task to the very best of my ability.
What advice would you give other Specials thinking about joining Leonardo?
Do it! You will be fully supported though flexible working, ESP and a genuine company desire to assist the community.