Dedicated police volunteer recognised at national award ceremony

A dedicated officer from Cleveland Police’s Special Constabulary has been recognised at a national award ceremony which celebrates outstanding contributions to volunteering in policing.

Special Chief Inspector James Ruddock was a runner up at the annual Lord Ferrers Awards which was held at Lancaster House in London on Thursday 12 October.

James was shortlisted for the Individual Special Constable Of The Year award for his implementation of Cleveland Police’s Medicar – a joint initiative by Cleveland Police and the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS).

It allows both emergency services to respond more quickly to incidents such as road traffic collisions, assaults and more.

The Medicar recently celebrated its fifth birthday and has provided potentially lifesaving treatment to more than 100 people since first implemented.  

James volunteers more than 100 hours a month as a Special Chief Inspector, giving up his own unpaid time to carry out frontline policework in Middlesbrough.

He is also Cleveland Police’s Citizens in Policing coordinator, managing all other volunteers and special constables across the force.

James, alongside Chief Constable Mark Webster and Temporary Special Chief Officer Rob Lynas, attended the awards ceremony and had the honour of visiting 10 Downing Street after the event.

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Mark Webster said: “It was a great privilege for me to attend the awards in company with James who is the first Cleveland Police nominee for these prestigious awards.

“James’ excellent work as a Chief Inspector in the Special Constabulary is invaluable in order for the force to protect people and communities, and this work is the embodiment of our mission. To be shortlisted in his category is a fantastic recognition for the work he does!

“There are volunteers and members of the Special Constabulary all over the force who make valuable contributions every day and their work does not go unnoticed.”