The third and final installment from our guest Special Sergeant, Matt Hickinbottom, we hear about how Covid impacted his role and outlook on his career. We also delve into how Matt sees his career progressing in the Specials and the opportunities available to new recruits joining Staffordshire Police.

Focusing on our specials constabulary, we are sitting down with people across all levels of our team of voluntary officers, as they share their knowledge, expertise and tales of life in the force.

If you want to read more about our specials constabulary, or if you’re interested in joining, please visit: Special Constable | Staffordshire Police

Episode two of our Specials mini-series of The Beat continues with Special Sergeant, Matt Hickinbottom.

Focusing on our specials constabulary, we are sitting down with people across all levels of our team of voluntary officers, as they share their knowledge, expertise and tales of life in the force.

If you want to read more about our specials constabulary, or if you’re interested in signing up, please visit: Special Constable | Staffordshire Police

The third guest in our Specials mini-series of The Beat is Special Sergeant, Matt Hickinbottom.

Focusing on our specials constabulary, we are sitting down with people across all levels of our team of voluntary officers, as they share their knowledge, expertise and tales of life in the force.

Despite having only been in our ranks since 2015, Matt has worked on and off in policing roles for 25 years. This is alongside his varied career which includes a college lecturer, TV and film producer, director and even composer.

In Part One, Matt tells our host Josh Samuels why he joined the Specials and how he manages the role alongside other commitments and experiences in his life.

If you want to read more about our specials constabulary, or if you’re interested in joining, please visit: Special Constable | Staffordshire Police

Episode two of our Specials mini-series of The Beat continues with Special Constable Kristian Roberts!

Focusing on our specials constabulary, we are sitting down with people across all levels of our team of voluntary officers, as they share their knowledge, expertise and tales of life in the force.

In Part Two, Kristian tells Josh Samuels about what it was like becoming a special in the middle of the pandemic and why he couldn’t get enough of it.

If you want to read more about our specials constabulary, or if you’re interested in signing up, please visit: Special Constable | Staffordshire Police

The second guest in our Specials mini-series of The Beat is Special Constable Kristian Roberts!

 Focusing on our specials constabulary, we are sitting down with people across all levels of our team of voluntary officers, as they share their knowledge, expertise and tales of life in the force.

Scotsman Kristian has been part of the specials for three years and juggles his voluntary duties in the force with his full-time job as an engineer.

In Part One, Kristian tells Josh Samuels why becoming a regular officer isn’t for him, the characteristics that every special should have and whether he sees himself being in the specials long-term.

If you want to read more about our specials constabulary, or if you’re interested in signing up, please visit: Special Constable | Staffordshire Police

Episode One of our specials constabulary mini-series of The Beat continues with our specials co-ordinator, Sue Bohanan!

Focusing on our specials constabulary, we are sitting down with people across all levels of our team of voluntary officers, as they share their knowledge, expertise and tales of life in the force.

In Part Two, Sue tells Josh Samuels the now-infamous story of how she used her experience and instinct to single-handedly prevent a theft at her local shop.

If you want to read more about our specials constabulary, or if you’re interested in signing up, please visit: Special Constable | Staffordshire Police

We are launching an all-new mini-series of our podcast, The Beat!

Focusing on our specials constabulary, we are sitting down with people across all of our team of voluntary officers, as they share their knowledge, expertise and tales of life in the force.

Joining Josh Samuels in the first episode is Sue Bohanan, who currently serves as our specials co-ordinator.

A beloved member of the Staffordshire Police community, the affectionately nicknamed Sue Bo speaks to Josh with great honesty, humility and humour about her three decades as a special.

In Part One, she tells Josh about what led her to sign up as a special, how she was able to balance her duties on the family farm with her calling to join the police and how specials are far more valued nowadays than when she signed up.

If you want to read more about our specials constabulary, or if you’re interested in signing up, please visit: Special Constable | Staffordshire Police

Knife crime is a community issue and it’s crucial that those at risk are aware of the support available to them. Even though it’s not common to carry a knife, we know that some young people choose to carry because they perceive that others are too, or because they feel pressure to do so.

If you want to know more about what's happening locally, signs to spot that indicate a young person may be carrying a knife, or to know what happens if someone is found to be carrying a knife, take a listen to hear from our guest speakers:

• Mark from Staffordshire's Violence Reduction Team
• Gemma from Catch22
• Joy from Stoke-on-Trent Youth Offending Service

Visit our website for more information about our Ditch The Blade campaign and to access details for support organisations.

Have any questions? Drop us an email at [email protected]

As well as face-to-face engagement, modern technology helps our officers engage with communities in more ways than ever.

In the latest episode of The Beat Podcast, hear from PCSO Horton and Chief Inspector Cotton as they share their experiences of local policing and community engagement. Understand how they work with their local residents, businesses and partner organisations to better understand local issues and to tackle these together as a community.

Have any questions? Drop us an email at [email protected]

In episode 13 of The Beat Podcast we hear from Chief Constable Chris Noble who talks openly about designing and implementing the new local operating model, how we're responding to the Louise Casey report, as well as the steps we're is taking to improve and maintain standards following the recent HMICFRS inspection.

Hosted by Mike Lowe, Communications and Engagement Manager at Staffordshire Police.

Have any questions? Drop us an email at [email protected]