Christmas Day Call Handler Keeps Nottinghamshire Safe
While families unwrap gifts this Christmas morning, Nottinghamshire Police emergency call handler Ben Garrod will be glued to his phone, answering urgent 999 and 101 calls. Ben, 24, is working his first full Christmas Day shift, helping those in need from the force’s cutting-edge control room.
Ben’s Christmas Shift: “Like Having a Surrogate Family”
Ben has been a call handler for 18 months. He says Christmas Day on the job feels like any other day. “We’re away from our families, but the team is close-knit, almost like having a surrogate one for the day,” he reveals.
“I’m expecting a jovial atmosphere. We’re all here because we enjoy helping people. Christmas Day is no different to any other shift.”
From Rolls-Royce Apprentice to Calm Under Pressure
Before policing the phones, Ben was an apprentice at Rolls-Royce in Derby. The emergency control room suits his skills perfectly. “You’ve got to stay calm under pressure, think on your feet, and be decisive,” he says.
He urges anyone interested to give it a go: “Being a call handler is all about listening, understanding how people feel, and knowing how to support them.”
From Life-Threatening Emergencies to Lottery Queries
The calls are wildly varied. Ben explains: “We get everything. Serious incidents that make the evening news and ridiculous 999 calls – like a man wanting to check if his lottery ticket won!”
He adds, “There’s so much variety, and callers come from all walks of life. You must be a great communicator, a good listener, and able to empathise. Every call is a new challenge.”
