Ashford officer makes over 100 arrests in a year
With more than 100 arrests last year, a Kent Police officer has set a powerful example of proactive and responsive policing in action.
PC Alex McCallam, who is based in Ashford, brought numerous burglars, robbers, domestic abusers and other criminals into custody during an exceptional 2025.
He made multiple arrests after responding to emergency calls throughout the year and also whilst looking for proactive opportunities to bring offenders to justice.
PC McCallam, who made 118 arrests in total, said: ‘As a response officer I go to lots of emergency calls as well as less serious incidents that still require an officer to attend. In between those calls, I like to go out and see who is wanted and I treat it as a challenge to try to be the one who finds and arrests them.
‘One arrest that stands out happened on a weekend evening when I was patrolling Ashford High Street. I heard on my radio that some offenders had travelled down from London and used a knife to rob a woman of her car in Dover. We had the details of the vehicle they were in and I knew it was likely they would head back to London via the M20 and that I could get there in time.
‘With the permission of my supervisors I left the High Street and headed to the motorway, and before long I was behind the vehicle. Other officers and I pursued it all the way to the M26 where we brought it to a stop and I was able to arrest the driver, who has since been charged and remanded.
‘It’s usually a good feeling when you make an arrest, especially when you can see the relief it brings to victims when you remove the chaos and fear from a situation, or when you can give them the satisfaction of knowing the person who assaulted them or stole from them is in custody.’
Inquisitive
PC McCallam is trained to pursue vehicles that fail to stop and also to carry and use a taser if necessary. This increases the variety of incidents he can attend, giving him more opportunities to make arrests.
He said: ‘I like to be inquisitive because the nosier you are, the more evidence of criminality you tend to find.
‘I pulled the same chap over in different vehicles for minor traffic infringements recently, and on both occasions the car he was driving had false numberplates. He was released on bail the first time but when he saw it was me again, his face just dropped. He knew the game was up.’
Commitment
Assistant Chief Constable Nigel Brookes said: ‘PC McCallam personifies the commitment and dedication shown by Kent Police officers across the county on a daily basis.
‘His passion for public service is clear to see and I am very grateful for the excellent work he and other officers do to keep people safe, catch criminals and act as role models to their colleagues.
‘Whilst we do not set arrest targets and it is not a competition, to make over 100 arrests in a single year is exceptional work.’
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