Special Chief Inspector 'gobsmacked' to win second award of the year

16 November 2023

“I don’t do it for the recognition,” says Special Chief Inspector Anne Russell, who has won her second award of the year.

Anne scooped the Longevity Award at the Lord Ferrers Awards, which recognise outstanding contributions made by special constables, police support volunteers, volunteer police cadets and others who give their time to support policing.

It comes after she won a Police Volunteer of the Year award at the British Association for Women in Policing Awards in the summer.

Anne said: “I was just gobsmacked to win.

“I don’t do what I do for awards or for the recognition. I do it because I love what I do, and I still do.”

Anne (front centre) with colleagues from the Force.

Anne explained that she found out about winning the Lord Ferrers Award from the comfort of her poolside sun-lounger.

“I was on holiday in Egypt when I found out,” she said. “I didn’t make it to the awards because I’d already booked my holiday.

“My phone went and I was sitting by the pool.

“You don’t ever think you’ll win it.

Anne began her volunteering service with West Midlands Police in 1987 after she was unable to join as a regular officer.

“I was awful at tests and didn’t get in,” she said. “I was told to look at becoming a Special and coming back in 12 months, but I became a Special and never looked back.”

Anne said that policing was very different when she joined the Force in the 1980s, particularly with the lack of support and resources for volunteers.

Now she’s serving in the Learning and Development team, she’s determined to ensure that today’s Specials feel as supported as possible - so much so that she’s played a key role in developing a training programme for the Force’s Specials.

“I find it very rewarding,” she said. “I absolutely love it.

“If I think people are enjoying it, learning and making a career out of it, that gives me great satisfaction.”

Anne receiving the WIP volunteer of the year award 2023

She added: “Looking back, I think it’s the best it’s been for supporting us with regards to the training you get.

“The integration is a lot better, as is how we support Specials with direction.

“When I joined, we hadn’t really got any direction, so that’s made me want to support them even more.

“Because I know we didn’t have great direction when I joined, it’s made me want to support them even more.”

Anne now combines being a Special with a day-time staff role in the Traffic Investigations Unit.

“I can see things from both sides,” she said. “I can look at it and think about the skills and abilities that we can pass on to give people confidence in their role.”

A change in the law last year allowed Specials to join the Police Federation and Anne said she jumped at the opportunity after being the subject of a complaint a number of years ago.

“It was really worrying thinking I’d got no support and there was no one to go to,” she said.

“So, to be able to be a Federation member is a massive step forward. It’s so much better.”