Whether they are fellow staff members or officers, or service personnel with whom we come into contact during investigations, DO Darren Andrews has been looking for ways to help them and improve their situation.
Darren became a Service Champion in May 2021 after serving in the Grenadier Guards for 13 years and with Hampshire Constabulary for 18 years.
He performs this role in addition to his day job at Southampton Custody, where he provides support and advice to those with an armed forces background or connections to people in the forces.
This can range from assisting someone who has been arrested in obtaining the necessary support to advising fellow employees who may have family in the military or are former service personnel themselves.
Darren was named an Armed Forces Champion 2022 at the Armed Forces Network’s Together We Can Make a Difference conference earlier this month in Brighton.
“It was completely unexpected to receive the award,” he said. “I was surprised when I was called the week before and told that I was going to receive it.”
“I’ve been really pushing the Armed Forces Champion role over the last 18 months, and I’ve had a lot of help and support from people to do so.”
We have now trained 42 people from Hampshire Constabulary to be champions, who are distributed throughout the county.
“I’ve sat with people in custody who recognise my tattoos as military-related, and that sparks a conversation with them.”
Anyone we come into contact with who has armed forces connections, whether members of the public or staff, is entered into a spreadsheet so we can keep track and provide the appropriate support.”
“Through connections I’ve established with other partners, such as the council, I can point people in the right direction to get help and support when they need it, and help them get back on track.”
Even within the force, I can offer advice and support to colleagues, such as when they have a partner in the military and are trying to get leave to coincide with them returning from being away on exercises.”
Andrew Blackman, the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, presented Darren with his award.
Darren has been a driving force in moving this work forward within Hampshire Constabulary, and we are grateful for his support and active engagement,” his citation stated.
Since completing the training, he has advocated for more Hampshire Constabulary officers to become Service Champions, raising awareness for and supporting those from the Armed Forces community, whether they are other officers or ‘visitors’ through the custody suite.
