Coalition member Jonathan tells his story about volunteering for the Police Independent Advisory Group

We’re celebrating one of our wonderful members volunteering for the Police Independent Advisory Group for 15 years!! A massive thank you to you Jonathan. Jonathan tells his story about how he got involved below. It’s a great read of how Jonathan got involved, how volunteering has helped others and maybe a couple of stories that’ll make you chuckle….

Shortly after being asked to join The Coalition as an ordinary member in 2006, I began taking part in the activities of matters related to my visual impairment. After losing all visual sensations in 2005, I soon got to know many more similarly sight impaired adults. In 2008 I was asked to join the Board of Directors.  

With e-mail and occasional face to face meetings we began tackling many of the shared challenges faced by Coalition members and the wider population of Surrey.

As part of my work as a Director, I met with the North Surrey Police Independent Advisory Board. This was one of four other groups which covered the whole county. Meetings were held inside Staines police station. Going behind the counter in any police station was a truly novel experience for me!

Sitting round a table with senior local officers was a very novel experience! This was in 2009, 15 years ago. In common with many official groups, austerity caused all four of these groups to merge into just one.

From then on, all meetings were held at Mount Browne, the police headquarters in Guildford. All meetings were chaired by the Chief Superintendents and occasionally “the Chief!” the Chief Constable. All volunteers have to successfully complete security vetting which as we’d gain an insight into very serious criminal situations.

In these meetings we were brought up to date with real live operational activities, occasionally being briefed confidentially of course on things which even today, I am unable to disclose.

One special session was held in a lecture room where the duties of Surrey Firearms unit were explained. Later that afternoon I was given an AK47 to hold! Police officers may be threatened by criminals  with both real and replica weapons. I can tell you that holding a replica or the real thing weighed and felt identical. Imagine the challenge facing a police officer who had just a split second to decide what to do! These could be real life and death decisions. A subsequent round table meeting gave me an opportunity to hold a Taser!

Eddie my first Guide Dog always came to meetings with me. We were always made welcome. I especially remember one occasion when the current Chief, being a passionate dog owner, approached me during the break which was suddenly interrupted by Eddie needing to answer a call of nature!

Get him out!! Too late The Chief’s shiny boots got christened, you need not have the details!

A few weeks later a local policeman stopped me in Egham, “Was it your dog?”

“Yes I replied”, Eddie’s story had spread through the entire Force!

This is just a very brief snapshot of the 15 years of my volunteering with what is now Surrey and Sussex Police Force.

On Thursday June 6, I was invited to attend an event – a celebration of how volunteers had supported our county’s police force. Gathered in the Tithe Barn of Losley Park, more than a hundred volunteers  of all ages met to share their achievements.

Some had just completed their first year, there were others who had volunteered for five and even ten! There were people of all ages and skills varying from car mechanics to retired officers. As the length of service ramped up, the ACCO, (Assistant Chief Officer) then announced my name, “there is just one person here tonight, who has completed fifteen years, “ Jonathan , please come forward to receive this special certificate of recognition”?

From being involved in making services like the Pegasus card accessible, to sharing the accreditation of police conduct and discipline, to helping to explain how a group of new PCSOs could better communicate with members of the public in the street, volunteering has been an endlessly varied experience.