Hawkins Joins Northumbria Police
Newcastle Falcons Rob Hawkins will be dedicating more of his free time to the local community after joining Northumbria Police’s Special Constabulary.
After completing his required training, the hooker was sworn in as a special constable at a ceremony at Middle Engine Lane Police Station and he will now volunteer and give up his own time to support Northumbria Police.
With links to the police force already in the Hawkins family, with his grandfather a former Superintendent with Avon and Somerset Police, Rob decided to become a special after hearing a presentation from Chief Superintendent Andy McDyer, as he looks to widen his skill set off the rugby pitch.
Rob said: “I’m excited to be joining Northumbria Police and the policing family as a special constable. It’s a great opportunity to gain great life experience and find out what being a police officer is like.”
I’ve always had an interest in the police and after speaking with Mandy [Thompson] from the RPA, she arranged for the Chief Superintendent to come down and have a chat and it all went from there.”
“It’s been brilliant, the training staffs have been exceptional and there was a great bunch of students doing it with me and now I’m very eager to go out and practice what we all learned.”
Chief Superintendent Andy McDyer said: “It’s fantastic news that a professional rugby player has joined our special constabulary and we’re really pleased to welcome Rob into the policing family.
“Some incredible people give up their own time to volunteer in a number of roles for us and we really are humbled by the time they give up to support us and their local community.
“We’re continually looking to recruit volunteers and hope to recruit more than 100 specials over the next year. Volunteers provide us with a vital link between the force and our communities, the individuals who join bring a host of skills from a range of backgrounds that both support and aide us.
“People who join the special constabulary say they find it incredibly rewarding and that they feel they are putting something back into the community, this is what the true spirit of policing is all about and something we’re incredibly proud of.”
Northumbria Police has a number of volunteering roles across the force from the Special Constabulary to Community Speedwatch and the Police Cadet Scheme for young people.
For more information on how to volunteer for Northumbria Police and details of the opportunities available visit the Northumbria Police website [www.northumbria.police.uk][1]
[1]: http://www.northumbria.police.uk
