Article
OneYearOn
One year after SectionUKopenedup itsmembership toPolice
Staff, PoliceWorld speaks toZoeHoward, fromHertfordshire
branch, whoenrolledwithinminutesof the rulechange.
SoZoe, sincebecoming thefirst police staff
person tobeenrolled into IPASectionUK,
what have youbeenup to in your first year of
membership?
“I was attested into theHertfordshireSpecial
Constabulary inAugust. On starting the training
course, I foundmyself ina room full of complete
strangers, themajority of whomwere vastly
younger –and indeed taller - thanmyself. I broke
the iceduringa refreshment breakby talking
about the IPAwitha view to signingasmany of
themupas possible! Despitehavingonly eight
monthsundermy belt, I’ve completedmy Police
ActionChecklist (PACS) andam looking forward
tonewpolicing challenges. Beingable to joinmy
regular colleagues,many of whomarealready
IPAmembers, andgoout ondutywith themhas
added tomy knowledgeof thepolicingworldand
hashelpedmeunderstandwhat challenges they
faceonadaily basis.”
Webelieve your renditionof ‘I shot theSheriff’
shot the topof thecharts– tell usmore.
“Ha, ha– very funny. InSeptember, I hadagreat
timehelping toorganise the visit toUKRegion9
by the twoUSAofficers, JohnFlannery and Tom
Sanchez. Ahighlight formewas theMcMullen’s
Brewery tripwhereRegion9members and John
Flannery spent agood fewhours in theHertford
BrewhousewithFergusMcMullen (Production&
SalesDirector). After the fantastic tour, Fergus
presented JohnFlannerywithabeer pump clip
withMcMullen’s IPA logoon it as amementoof
the visit andweall receiveda caseof premium
bottledales toenjoy at our leisure. Finally,
Fergus treatedus toa fabulous lunch inoneof
McMullen’sHertfordpubs, Baroosh. The leaving
party, whichweheldon Johnand Tom’s last
night, was attendedbymanyRegion9members,
local Hertford TownCouncillors and long-service
IPAmembers. It was agreat success and my
karaokeperformanceof ‘I shot theSheriff’ with
Johnand Tomhas been thebutt of jokes since.”
Howeasy have you found it toget
involved in IPAactivities?
“Very easy. In January this year,members
from theNational ExecutiveCommittee
visitedHertfordshire to visit potential
venues for the2015NCM
whichRegion9will be
hostingand I was involved
in thatmeeting, followed
by aBurnsNight themed
supper. I’ll beattending this
year’sNCMat FiveLakes
inChelmsford, which I am
verymuch looking forward
to, as it will giveme further
insight intopreparations for
when it’smyRegion’s turn
next year. I alsoattended
my first Region9AGMat
BedfordshirePoliceHQ,
whichwas agoodopportunity tomeet other
RegionandBranchmembers.”
Finally, what are you looking forward to in the
next 12months?
I’ve very recentlymovedon fromHertfordshire
Constabulary andamnowworking for aprivate
hospital inHertfordshire, but I’ll continuewithmy
Special Constabulary role. I feel very fortunate
tohavemade some great friendships through
the IPAand, although I amno longer
police staff, those friendshipswill
continue through theSpecial
Constabulary. So it just goes
to show that whether you’re
police staff, a regular officer or
aSpecial Constable, there’sno
differentiationbetween the IPA
membershipof staff versus
officers, everyone is part
of thebig IPA family and
team. I hopemy article
may go somewhere to
encouragingothermembers of police staff to join
- alongwith theaddedbonus of freemembership
during this special year.
Oneof themany good ideas that came from the
9RegionAGMwas for eachBranchof Region
9 tohost anactivity of their choice to raise
funds towards theNCM in2015. So, what with
thoseevents and theArthur TroopCentenary
celebrations inDecember this year, let’s get the
parties started!
ZoeHowardwithHertford Town
CouncilMayor - PatriciaMoore - after
the remembranceparade.
Lunchat Baroosh inHertford
Outside theMcMullen’s visitors centre
9Regionparty time
POLICEWORLD
Vol 59No. 3, 2014
11
