If only it was that simple…

There are no two days the same, but I will always start my shift with kitting up at my locker equipping myself with the essentials for the day, hi-visibility coat, hat and kit bag. I’ll move on up to the Sergeant’s office where I grab a set of car keys, preferably an Audi or BMW estate. Next will be my taser, incapacitant spray and body worn video. Next, I’ll stick a battery into my personal radio, and I’ll take my kit to the vehicle where it’s checked for any defects before I’m finally ready to deploy.

Will I be deployed to intercept a vehicle with a wanted person on board, or to prevent a large quantity of drugs from being dropped off within the county? On the other hand, will I be deployed to a fatal collision on the motorway network? Waiting for the first deployment still gives me an adrenaline rush.

Grade 1 deployment. There it is.

Multiple reports of a serious road traffic collision between a HGV and small hatchback in a live-lane on the motorway network. Typically there would be multiple units allocated to this incident with it being on a motorway as safety is paramount so we can deal with the incident and allow other emergency services access. The report was only 4 miles away, it shouldn’t take too long driving on blue lights and sirens at 140mph right? Wrong. It’s 3pm in the afternoon, traffic is stand-still on the motorway and apparently nobody can see me in their mirrors with police livery, blue lights flashing and a loud siren… Painful. Eventually I arrive and minor injuries are reported, the debris and vehicles are cleared from the live-lane and a report is taken on the hard shoulder. Paramedics arrive on scene and check on the casualty before conveying them to hospital for check ups. Driver of the HGV reported for the relevant driving offences.

First job done.

When incidents are reported, they can sound a lot worse than they actually are which thankfully is often the case. But sadly they can also be a lot worse.

What would usually follow is proactive patrol, I would be on mobile patrol keeping my eyes peeled for any motorists who didn’t feel like abiding by the law that day. Quite often I would give my discretion with minor offences, but with that comes something called the “Attitude Test” and yes, this is a real thing. I understand everyone has places to be and the last thing anyone wants is to be stopped by a cop, especially a traffic cop… But there is a time and place to be argumentative and abusive, and this time or place is not at the side of the road with a traffic cop after you’ve been caught driving on your mobile phone!

Patrol can often lead me right up to the end of my shift and having accumulated a fair bit of paperwork to process, I’ll generally head back into the station an hour or so before I’m due to finish my tour of duty.

I wish it was always this simple. 30 minutes to go until it’s home time, and there it is, another grade 1 with nobody else available to go to it.

Reports being made of a person in distress stood over a motorway bridge, now this is an incident where every action from responders count. For me, it’s essential I respond with haste and gain some clarification as to what’s happening on that bridge. Now this means, is this person stood on the incorrect side with intent and I need to put a closure on the motorway to prevent the person from being struck by a vehicle and immediate first-aid can be given on the carriageway. Or is there a police patrol on scene who is successfully negotiating with this person and I can standby, poised and ready to step into action if needed. Thankfully, on this occasion the person in crisis left the bridge and was voluntarily conveyed to the local Hospital to speak with mental health professionals.

Back to the station I go, time to get my admin done, de-kit and hang my keys up, ready to do it all again tomorrow.