Thomas Robinson, Special Chief Inspector

Name: Thomas Robinson

Rank: Special Chief Inspector

Where do you work as a Special Constable?: Southbank (North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire)

When did you join as a Special Constable?: I Joined July 2018

What do you do for a living outside the Special Constabulary?: I am a solicitor specialising in corporate law.

Why did you join as a Special Constable?: I joined the Special Constabulary while I was studying at university. As I was doing a law degree, I saw the Special Constabulary as an excellent opportunity to get some more practical experience compared to the more theoretical approach I was used to as part of my degree.

What types of duty you typically get involved in?: The duties we do as Specials can vary quite widely. One shift might involve doing pro-active community patrols, while another may involve working with the Response Team. During my time in the Special constabulary, I have also been involved with executing drug warrants, working with specialist teams such as the Rural Task Force, Dog Section and Roads Policing Unit, and policing large scale public events, among many other things.

What are your future ambitions as a member of the Special Constabulary?: I hope to continue my role within the Special Constabulary for as long as my day job allows me to meet the time commitment (which is a minimum of 16 hours per month). My proudest moment in the Special Constabulary so far has been getting promoted to the rank of Special Chief Inspector. This has given me to opportunity to develop and practice my leadership and management skills, which has also assisted me in my day job. As a close second, my other proudest moment would be the day I attested and took the oath of the office of constable, marking the end of an intensive training package and the beginning of my career as a volunteer police officer.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of joining?: My advice to anyone considering whether to join the Special Constabulary would be to register for one of our presentation events, where you can find out more about the role and ask serving Specials any questions you might have – and if you still think the role might be for you, then come and join us!