Hampshire’s Crime Fighter Extraordinaire Bags Special of the Year
Special Sergeant Daniel Van-Gelder has clocked over 1,000 hours of volunteering to make Hampshire and the Isle of Wight safer. His dedication to battling crime has earned him the coveted Special of the Year award at a star-studded ceremony celebrating volunteer officers.
From Drugs Busts to Leading Investigations
Since joining in January 2019, Daniel has gone above and beyond. Promoted to Special Sergeant in 2022, he’s taken part in emergency callouts, led hundreds of investigations, and helped clear huge amounts of drugs off local streets.
Last year alone, Daniel slammed in 1,146 hours volunteering alongside the Southampton Response and Patrol Teams — nearly six times the minimum required for Specials. He tackled 111 serious emergencies, 278 other incidents, and led investigations on 250 cases, all while juggling his day job as a chartered surveyor.
“Special Sergeant Van-Gelder is attentive, professional and values public service which is evident in his work,” said Special Chief Inspector Lauren Taylor.
“On one occasion, Daniel spotted a car illegally parked in the city centre. Stopping to check, he detected a strong cannabis smell, searched the vehicle, and recovered two rucksacks of cannabis plus phones and drug paraphernalia. He issued a penalty notice for no insurance and saw the investigation through — even if it meant finishing hours late.”
“Daniel is an all-round amazing officer and leader who Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary are incredibly fortunate to have.”
Chief Constable Scott Chilton praised Daniel’s dedication, saying, “He gives huge amounts of his own time to being tough on crime and making life miserable for criminals. He thoroughly deserves this recognition and we’re all proud of him.”
Isle of Wight Specials Named Team of the Year
The Isle of Wight Special Constabulary team scooped the Team of the Year award for 2022 after clocking a combined 2,600 volunteer hours. The squad includes Special Sergeant Claire Mumford, Acting Special Sergeant Sam Howard, and several others.
Special Chief Inspector Andrew Pullen said: “The island’s Specials are deeply embedded in the police family and respected for their work tackling anti-social behaviour and running drink-drive campaigns.”
Long-Serving Specials and Volunteers Also Honoured
- Special Constable Matthew Clark got a 15-year long service medal. He’s a stalwart of the Winchester patrol team and part of search & rescue and public order units.
- Police Support Volunteer of the Year 2022: Gemma Bath, recognised for her work with the East Offender Management Team.
- Volunteer Police Cadet honours went to Deputy Unit Leader Harry Wall (Leader of the Year) and Cadet Phoebe Butler (Cadet of the Year) from Basingstoke.
- Memorial Garden Volunteer Team earned Volunteer Support Team of the Year for maintaining Netley’s gardens.
- Gosport’s Volunteer Police Cadet Team won for building strong relationships with local police.
Fourteen Special Constables and seven Police Support Volunteers also received length of service awards. Across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Specials volunteer a minimum of 16 hours monthly, backing up regular officers to police their communities.
