Barnstaple inspector heads to the capital in support of police colleagues

Barnstaple Local Policing Inspector Andy Wills was on duty in London recently assisting colleagues at The Metropolitan Police Service.

He led a team of mutual aid officers from several other police forces, including Surrey, Sussex and Norfolk, as well as officers from his own force – Devon & Cornwall Police.

Officers from across the UK helped out to police the streets of London in late November, for protest processions and assemblies related to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

Inspector Andy Wills explained: “I was on duty in London to lead a team of 24 officers from various other police forces in support of colleagues at The Met Police. The police family help each other out when necessary and we rely on our colleagues around the country and home nations to help us keep the public safe.

“Early one morning we were presented with a great opportunity for a photograph outside Number 10 Downing Street, which really added to our interesting experience policing the nation’s capital.”

Inspector Wills has served with Devon & Cornwall Police for almost 19 years and has spent most of that time in North and West Devon. He has been a Response Constable, a Neighbourhood Beat Manager, a Response Sergeant and a Custody Sergeant. He also spent two years as an Inspector working in the Contact Centre at police HQ Middlemoor in Exeter managing the emergency 999 and non emergency 101 calls, as well as online crime reporting.

He has also previously served with Sussex Police as a switchboard operator dealing with calls from the public and is a Public Order Commander. As with other colleagues who work locally, this is not the first time he has been called upon to assist other police forces outside of his usual North Devon patch.

For more information about the Barnstaple Local Neighbourhood Policing Team please follow them on Facebook Barnstaple Police account or visit www.devon-cornwall.police.uk