Recruitment drive shines spotlight on police work
More people than expected turned out for the Guernsey Police recruitment event on Saturday.
There were displays from the police dogs, the specialist training department and collision investigations.
The bomb disposal unit were also displaying the work they do and items they have recovered.
PC James De La Mare said the display featured various ordnance, including projectiles, mortars, rockets and grenades.
‘Being in bomb disposal is varied and exciting. It’s like a part of history because of the Occupation,' he said.
‘We have some German mortar which was found in Lihou. It can be fired up and out of a tube and come down to land. Lihou is quite soft-soiled so often it would just stick in the land.
‘It’s good to have this out on display to educate people about what could be out there, but also what we do with it.
‘My family members have served in the military so to me it’s all about continuing that legacy and making our island safe.'
Police dog handler PC Dan Thomas said that lots of people wanted to be dog handlers.
‘Our police dogs come from Sussex Police, who have their own breeders. The dogs go through lots of tests before they get here,' he said.
‘An example is a metal bowl being thrown into a corner of a room. If a dog were to whimper away, then they would not be fit, but if they went over to investigate that is a big tick.'
He said that the unit was at the event to showcase what a career with the police offers and to get people more interested in joining.
PC Russell Winslade, also from the police dog unit, said it was clear the police dogs enjoyed what they were doing due to their wagging tails.
He added that trainee police dog Guinness was doing well in his training, and was beginning to find property.
Chief inspector of operations Julie Palmer was pleased to see so many people within the first hour of the recruitment event.
‘This event is to let the public see what we do. We came here at 10am and it’s been so positive and busy, which is really nice. It’s also a great focus on community engagement and a good chance to chat about specialisms,’ she said.
Chief officer Ruari Hardi was equally pleased. ‘It’s been really good. It’s all about recruitment and community engagement,’ he said.
