Top Special Superintendant appointed

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2016
Mark Owen, new Superintendent of the North Wales Police Special Constabulary.

A former police officer with over 30 years’ experience has taken up the mantle of North Wales Police Special Constabulary.

Mark Owen, who retired as a Chief Inspector from the Force three years ago, joins the North Wales Police Special Constabulary as the new Superintendent.

His regular job is now as a civilian member of staff and is one of two of North Wales Police’s Missing Persons Coordinators.

“Serving as a member of the Special Constabulary is an excellent way of putting something back into the community. Utilising the skills and knowledge of specials through volunteering benefits both the force and more importantly the communities it serves,” said the Specials Superintendent.

“I decided to join the Special Constabulary as I am proud to have served as a police officer. Over the course of my entire service I have had positive contact with the Special Constabulary and my interest was renewed when I attended as a speaker at the Special Constabulary Seminar held last October.

“In truth, since retiring I have missed being a police officer more and more. Therefore, when the opportunity came up to apply for the Superintendent role I saw it as an excellent opportunity to take on a role which I consider will give me personal satisfaction whilst at the same time, putting my policing experience, knowledge of North Wales Police and the work I already have done within volunteering to positive use, assisting to further develop the North Wales Police Special Constabulary.”

As part of his new role, Mark hopes to assist the Force towards its recruitment targets, increase the number of Special Constables within specialist roles as well as streamlining the recruitment and training process.

Immediately prior to retiring he was in charge of the Force Control Room. He started his police service on the beat in Wrexham and during his career, served in most areas of the Force.

In addition to Local Policing roles, which included being the Temporary Superintendent Operations covering Anglesey and Gwynedd, he worked in Operational Support, Roads Policing, Community Safety and HQ roles.

He also served a period of secondment to ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) at national level and served abroad, in the Balkans, as part of a secondment to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

In his spare time he volunteers for BikeSafe, a scheme in which he played a part in setting up many years ago. He is also current Chair of the Institute of Advanced Motorists group, North Wales Advanced Motorcyclists, a group whose volunteers help to improve riding standards and work towards motorcycle related road safety throughout North Wales.

Chief Inspector Simon Barrasford, Specials Co-ordinator for North Wales Police said: “We are very pleased to have selected Mark Owen as our Special Constabulary Superintendent. He brings with him a wealth of policing experience and shares our ambitions to make North Wales and even safer place.

“Becoming a Special Constable for North Wales Police is one of the most rewarding and exciting voluntary roles possible. Specials come from a variety of different backgrounds, which means that they bring with them a whole host of skills and abilities which complement those of their regular colleagues. We hope to recruit many more to join North Wales Police.”

 

If you are interested in joining the Special Constabulary please visit the Recruitment section on the Force website to find out more (www.north-wales.police.uk).