Hackney People
Leonard Stevenson
Leonard Stevenson, or Len as his friends call him, knew that volunteering as a 'special' with Hackney police was right up his street, from the moment he stepped out on his first patrol in 1979.
But it's fair to say that joining the Metropolitan Police's Special Constabulary wasn't his intention when he telephoned the force 31 years ago.
Len, who grew up in Hackney and still has family in the borough, laughs as he recalls: "I was working in an office, and wanted something to brighten up the walls. I saw an advert for the 'specials', so I phoned up to ask for some posters. Then I got a call thanking me for my application! At the time, I thought 'how can I get out of this?', but I decided to give it a go, and I've never looked back."
Special Constables volunteer for at least 16 hours a month, and work alongside regular police officers. They wear the same uniform; have the same responsibilities; and enjoy all the variety that policing has to offer.
After more than three decades Len - who now works in facilities support at a law firm - has a host of remarkable stories to tell. He says: "Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, there weren't many black police officers. In Hackney illegal drinking clubs were springing up, mainly visited by young black men.
"I worked undercover - with plain-clothed police women accompanying me, posing as my 'hangers on' - to look around and spot obstacles or hidden dangers that the police needed to be aware of before raiding the clubs."
Picking his most memorable shift is hard for Len, as there have been so many. But he says: "Patrolling Charles and Diana's wedding in 1981 was probably the most memorable.
"I was working along the Mall, on the procession route to Buckingham Palace, and there were people with cameras everywhere."
And did he see the Royal couple? Len adds: "I was about two metres away from them."
He also chuckles when he remembers falling out of a police van 20 years ago. The driver started the engine thinking Len was safely strapped inside.
He explains: "I went to my mum's house to get cleaned up - she lives just around the corner. She patched up my trousers, then I got back in the van, and back on with the job."
We go on to discuss the work that Len is most proud of. He says: "I was off duty one day, shopping, when I saw a house on fire. I remember asking a neighbour if she knew whether anyone was in the house. She said that she'd seen the children come out, but not the mother."
Len found some members of the public who could keep onlookers calm, and went upstairs to see if anyone was in
the house. He located the fire, and went down on all fours to avoid the worst of the smoke.
He recalls: "I saw what looked like a body. I got closer and realised it was a woman. I managed to drag her out, and the Fire Brigade arrived shortly after. They told me that, had I not gone in, she would have died."
Len's work in the community has earned him several commendations, and he is an integral part of Hackney police. He works for around 500 hours each year - well above the hours required, but his employers support him by giving him time off to attend training and other important events.
This year, Len was recognised for his long service at a ceremony at New Scotland Yard last month.
He adds: "If someone were to ask me about joining the specials, then I would say it's not like 'The Bill'! But if you want a challenging, exciting and rewarding opportunity, then volunteering with the police is a great way of putting something back into your community."
Curriculum vitae
- 1957 Born at Royal London Hospital
- 1971 Started at Shoreditch School (now Hackney Community College in Hoxton)
- 1976 Left school
- 1979 Joined Hackney police as a Special Constable
- 1988 Received his first Metropolitan Police Long Service Award
- 2010 Received second long service award from Met Police Deputy Commissioner, Tim Godwin, at New Scotland Yard ceremony
More information
To find out about becoming a Special Constable, call Sgt James Minney or Sgt Kevin Weeden on: 020 7275 3099; or: 07827 231 182; or email: hackneymsc@met.police.uk
Page updated: 7 Dec 2010
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