Since 2015, Ayman has risen through the ranks to now lead the county’s Specials, and here, he reflects on his journey and shares his thoughts on the current volunteering landscape within the Force.

Originally from north London and the owner of a long-standing IT business, Ayman was inspired to join the Special Constabulary after a personal incident in Stowmarket, where he moved 22 years ago.

Sadly not for the first time in their lives, Ayman and his family – who are of Palestinian-Lebanese heritage – were targeted in a racially motivated hate crime when their car was vandalised.

Chief Officer Ayman Al-Aride

But amid the hurt, he explained, came a spark of inspiration.

“PC Simpson, the officer who responded to our call, was just fantastic. The way he dealt with the situation was so different to what we’d been used to in London – it was more empathetic and less pressurised in terms of using up police time, which we really appreciated,” Ayman said.

“I remember thinking, ‘if they’re all like this, I want to be a part of it too’. So, when he told me I could, through the Special Constabulary, I was ready to start on the spot.

“And from there, I’ve never really looked back.”

Chief officer

In his first two years, Ayman made a strong impact in both response and neighbourhood policing in Stowmarket, earning the Force’s ‘Special of the Year’ award in 2016.

He later moved on to Elmswell, Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich, becoming a Special Sergeant in the latter.

An opportunity to apply for the role of chief officer came in 2018, although this initial attempt was unsuccessful.

“My second application was last year, and I got the role, which was a real honour,” he continued.

“So far, what I’ve learnt is that it’s not just about being a figurehead – it’s about staying close to the ground, listening to my officers and leading by example.

Frontline

“I’m a part of Citizens in Policing (CIP) meetings and scrutiny panel, but some of the 40 to 70 hours I average a month are still dedicated to the frontline.

“For me, staying operational is vital, because I always want to stay on top of anything and everything our Specials are capable of doing.”

Suffolk Constabulary’s CIP department is a highlight of Ayman’s policing career so far.

The 51-year-old described himself as ‘very lucky’ to have had the backing of his team, who he says have a knack for ‘producing confident individuals’ for voluntary service.

He also praised the Force for working well with the Special Constabulary, though acknowledged ongoing challenges around funding – particularly the availability of singularity equipment for each Special.

Voluntary

Ayman, who also serves as chairman of the Association of Muslim Police (AMP) for Norfolk and Suffolk, rounded off by setting out his ambition to empower every voluntary officer to achieve high in policing.

“For me, there should be no limits. I want the best for every Special, and although I may be chief officer, I still see myself as the same as them.

“Through the AMP, I’ve always pushed the message that when you’re working next to another officer, they’re your brother or sister and your differences don’t matter.

“I believe I have saved lives as a Special – even off duty, it has given me the confidence to help people in trouble, and afterwards, I’ve asked myself if I would have done that if I wasn’t volunteering in the police. In that sense, especially, it really has changed my life.

“If I can platform other Specials to have that same confidence and self-belief, then I’ll continue to be extremely proud to do what I do."

READ MORE: Read more in the latest edition of the online Suffolk Police Federation magazine.