Wellingborough mayor joins police specials on night patrol

A town mayor swapped her chains of office for a stab vest as she went out on the beat with the Wellingborough specials.

Wellingborough mayor Jo Beirne joined officers on patrol in the town last month to find out more about the work they do keeping people safe.

Wellingborough Police Specials, which form part of Northamptonshire Police, carry out regular patrols of parts of the borough where there are high-levels of reported anti-social behaviour and public nuisance.

Cllr Beirne said: “It was wonderful to meet the Wellingborough specials and to see them in action and volunteering in our local community.

"They work hard and offer valuable support to our regular officers and safety to our residents in the borough.”

Cllr Beirne was part of the specials in Wellingborough back in the 1990s and spent many hours policing special events, working with other specials and regular offices on their day and night shifts.

During her time with the specials she experienced a variety of different incidents.

Her recent evening with the specials came about following a visit to Wellingborough Sea Cadets where she spoke with Philip J Warr, specials and volunteers coordinator at Northamptonshire Police.

She wanted to find out more about the work which the Wellingborough specials team carry out today and so a date was set up with the team.

PS Scott Desrochers from Wellingborough Town and Rural Neighbourhood Team said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for the Wellingborough Neighbourhood Policing team to showcase the great working relationship we have with our colleagues from the Special Constabulary.

“It was also an opportunity to both discuss and show the mayor some of the work we have ongoing in Wellingborough.

“In typical fashion, our evening didn’t quite go as I had first planned, with a spontaneous incident leading to an arrest and subsequent investigative enquiries.

"However, this was actually a good thing because it allowed the team to show exactly what we’re capable of when we work together.

“I would like to thank the mayor for taking the time to come out on patrol with us and I hope the experience was both insightful and enjoyable.”