A Wiltshire Police Special Constable who has dedicated more than a decade to serving communities across the county has been recognised with a Long Service Award.
Special Constable Ben Williamson joined Wiltshire Police in November 2012, beginning his policing journey with the Melksham Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Over the past 14 years, he has demonstrated what the force terms an unwavering commitment to public service, professional development and supporting local communities.
Ben is among the most highly trained Special Constables within Wiltshire Police, holding qualifications in initial phase pursuit driving, Police Support Unit duties and Taser deployment.
These specialist skills, the force says, enable him to make a significant contribution to proactive policing and road safety operations across the county.
Since joining the Force, Ben has served in Melksham, Trowbridge and Devizes, gaining valuable frontline experience before moving to the Specials Roads Safety Unit, where he now serves as Acting Deputy Specials Chief Officer.
Throughout his service, Ben has established himself as a highly capable and dedicated officer.
In his current role, he supports and mentors more than 20 Special Constables, helping to develop their confidence, skills and operational effectiveness.
One of the standout moments of Ben's service came in April 2017 when he helped to catch a suspect involved in a fatal stabbing in Bath.
Using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) intelligence, Ben located the vehicle linked to the offender in Bradford on Avon and assisted in the arrest, deploying PAVA spray to safely detain the suspect.
The suspect was later sentenced for more than 20 years in prison.
Ben also remembers a fatal collision he attended on his own in the back lanes near Melksham. He provided CPR to a young man, who sadly lost his life following the crash.
Ben said: "I always wanted to be a police officer because I wanted to support people who need help, enforce standards and tackle crime.
"I joined the Special Constabulary as a trial to see what it was really like and I decided to stay as I felt this was the best of both worlds.
"What motivates me to do a public service is being able to support people in their worst times and attempting to provide a friendly yet professional service to those that need it."
A force spokesperson said: "Ben's dedication, leadership and professionalism have made a lasting impact on both the communities he serves and the Special Constabulary.
"Through his commitment to volunteering his time and expertise, he continues to play a vital role in keeping Wiltshire's communities safe.
"Congratulations to Special Constable Ben Williamson on receiving his Long Service Award and thank you for your outstanding contribution to policing in Wiltshire."
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