Specials in Paris

Three Special Constables were given the incredible opportunity of providing mutual aid for the policing operation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.  

This opportunity provided the Special Constables with the chance to network, learn how other countries police large international events and allowed them to put their neighbourhood policing skills into action. 

Representing Suffolk Constabulary, Special Constables Katelyn Lucas, Nick Jones and Darren Darby were deployed for ten days to Paris and were aligned to teams from the French National Police Service to support the international Policing of the Olympics. 

The below accounts give in insight into what these SCs experienced during their deployment: 

Katelyn Lucas

The opportunity to go to Paris and be involved in the biggest sporting event in the world was something that I will never forget. The experience allowed me to meet officers from over 39 countries and work with them to ensure the smooth running of the Olympic games. Working alongside French officers allowed us to understand our different policing styles and different equipment which gave us insight to how their criminal justice system works. 

We were fortunate enough to have the Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower as our patrol area! Very rare to have some of the most iconic monuments in the world to patrol. One of the standout events of the trip has to be climbing the Eiffel Tower while on duty as part of a patrol. Even though it was a lot of steps in kit, the view was the well worth it. Another highlight of the trip was after our final shift we took the metro over the bridge next to the Eiffel Tower while it was sparkling. This was a lovely way to end our deployment and my career as a special.

Nick Jones

It was a fantastic and very rewarding experience for me. It was a privilege to be a part of the Suffolk contingent and showcase the professionalism of the UK police while working with officers from all over the world. Officers from over 39 different countries deployed to the Paris Olympics. 

The focus of the deployment was to provide support and security and to provide assistance to tourists should they require it. The highlight of my deployment to Paris was being able to climb the 674 steps up the Eiffel Tower in full kit along with the Mexican police and UAE police. Thankfully they let us use the lift to get down.

Darren Darby

It was a privilege to be part of the team selected to support joint operations during the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. My deployment took me to the heart of Paris and to Gare du Nord station. It is one of the seven large mainline railway station termini in Paris that supports large numbers of international arrivals and departures such as UK, Germany Belgium and the Netherlands and has a daily footfall of over 700,000 passengers.

Whilst posted we were responsible for the security of the station and surrounding areas with hourly patrols focusing on suspicious activity suspicious unattended baggage and packages as well the safe arrival and transportation of the athletes from the Eurostar to their waiting transport.

Whilst working closely with officers from France, South Korea, Chillie, and officers from the Metropolitan Police it was interesting to learn that the challenges that we see here in Suffolk are felt by all our colleagues all over the world. I am very grateful for the opportunity, and I left Paris with a huge amount of respect for our French counterparts and the professionalism displayed.

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