Thomas Howard

Thomas works out of Ely Police Station but covers the whole county as part of Vision Zero, which aims to reduce serious and fatal road traffic collisions.

I initially joined the Specials to see if being a police officer was the job for me, but over time I enjoyed being a volunteer more and decided to become a “career Special”. This is mainly because I saw how much of an impact you can make to areas of policing when it needs support, as well as engaging with the communities we serve.

This has continued to motivate me over the years as well as helping new Specials develop their skills and knowledge.

While I now work on Vision Zero, I have previously worked on Response and Neighbourhood Policing. I have been a Special for 12 years in total, with three years spent in the Met, based with Local Policing Teams in Soho and Covent Garden, before transferring to Cambs.

I manage to fit my Specials shifts in because my regular job is in the constabulary’s Investigation Management Unit in the Demand Hub and the force gives me allocated days to complete duties, plus during my days off. I find it rather easy to plan and there is no pressure to do shifts on particular days.

My favourite part of the job is that no shift is the same. One shift you could be dealing with a serious road traffic collision, the next you could be assisting with a demonstration in Cambridge. The variety of things you deal with makes it always unpredictable and keeps you on your toes.

My message to someone considering becoming a Special would be to try it, or even ask for more information and chat with someone who is currently a Special. It is a fantastic role to play in your community and supports the wider policing family.