Meet some of our colleagues working across our communities on Christmas Day

On Christmas Day, while many people across our communities will be opening presents, tucking into a turkey dinner and celebrating festive traditions, there will be colleagues right across our services whose days will be very different.

The people mentioned here, whether they’ll be in uniform, under a headset, or on call, will be working Christmas Day in order to ensure the safety of people across our communities.

 

Andrew Hill, Public Service Centre Supervisor:

“I’ll be working from 12pm until 10pm on Christmas Day, supervising a team of staff answering 999 and 101 calls.

“Our teams will receive all manner of calls on Christmas Day, so we really can’t predict what will come in with any certainty.  

“Whilst our number one priority is to remain professional and deliver the best service possible to communities, we try our best to make Christmas Day as relaxed as possible for colleagues in the Public Service Centre. We’ll arrange a festive buffet, wear our Christmas jumpers, hats and other accessories – just to try and remain in the spirit.

“If I wasn’t working Christmas Day, I would be spending it with my wife. However, I’ll be working Christmas Eve, Day and Boxing Day so she will be visiting family whilst I’m at work and then we’ll all celebrate together on the 28^th. We’ll treat that as Christmas Day and a chance to exchange gifts and celebrate.”

 

 

Kaylee Noble, Animal Welfare Assistant, Dog and Mounted Section:

“Christmas Day will be like any other for me. The dogs and horses will receive the same care and attention as usual. We’ll feed them, clean out their stables and kennels and take them out for some exercise. I will try and keep it festive, though, and maybe wear a Santa hat!

“My colleagues and I will try to make the most of being at work on Christmas Day. We’ll bring in some nice food for lunch, put some Christmas songs on. Just because we’re at work – doesn’t mean we can’t bring some festivities with us.

“We’ll make sure the festive feeling is also extended to the dogs and horses, who themselves will receive their own Christmas goodies. The horses will have some special stocking-shaped hay nets that we’ll fill with carrots, and the dogs will be treated to some special flavoured treats.

“I’ll be celebrating Christmas after my shift. I have family members who are also in the job, so they fully understand and support that – which makes me feel lucky. I’ll also be lucky to have Carter, one of our Wellbeing Dogs, with me throughout the day and he never fails to put smiles on people’s faces – especially with his little Santa hat on!”

 

 

Superintendent Jason Herbert, Head of Custody Services:

“For me, Christmas is all about family. I’ll start the day at home and then enjoy a big family lunch – something that feels extra special now that the children are grown and one has moved out. Gifts have taken a back seat over the years, but sharing a meal together is what really matters.

“Later in the afternoon, I’ll start preparing for my night shift, heading into work around 6pm. As a Gold commander and Head of Custody Services, my role is to lead on the overall strategic command of the Service, but also to ensure that everyone working, doing a very critical job, is thanked, feels appreciated, and is supported to give the absolute best service that they can to our communities.

“I’m looking forward to spending some time out and about with our teams who are on duty. I’ve worked many Christmases over the years, and I’m always impressed by the dedication and good spirits of our staff who leave their families to keep south Wales safe – often with a smile and a touch of Santa’s cheer.

“One of the highlights for me is visiting custody suites and chatting with my night teams. With fewer emails and meetings, it’s a great chance to listen and connect.

“If I wasn’t working, the evening would be filled with food, games, and films – the usual family traditions. This year, though, one of my sons is also working a Christmas night shift in Cardiff, so there’s a chance I might bump into him during my travels.

“South Wales Police really is a close-knit community, and spending part of Christmas with our frontline staff reminds me how fortunate I am to be part of this team and in a role where I can help make a difference.”

 

 

Dawn Bellshaw-Jones, HOLMES Supervisor, Major Crime Investigation Team:

“I’ll be working on call Christmas Day, which will involve checking and monitoring the incidents which have occurred overnight. I will be doing this remotely from home and will have my laptop and phone nearby throughout the day – just in case I receive a call from my Chief Inspector.

“Whilst I cannot predict with any certainty that I will get a call, I know from my previous experiences that it can happen, so I am always aware. If I were to be called, it would be for an incident or serious crime where the HOLMES system would have to be set up. We use this system to manage and co-ordinate large, complex investigations and incidents, in particular, homicides.

“I will be celebrating Christmas at home with my family, which includes my two grandsons, aged four and six. They all know that I will be on call on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day and are fully understanding and supportive. We even have a bit of a plan ‘b’ in place, a back-up cook, in the event that I get called out to an incident.”

 

 

PC Owain Davies, Police Dog Handler, Specialist Operations:

“This Christmas, I’ll be working from 7am until 7pm. We can never predict how the day will go but one thing we do know is that it’ll include plenty of exercise for the dogs, meeting up with colleagues and answering anything we’re called to attend.

“I’ve worked a few Christmases over the years, and while it’s a festive, happy time for some, it can also be tough for others. Searching for missing or vulnerable persons of all ages has sadly been a theme over the years. We have also dealt with shop and business break-ins which have been targeted by opportunist burglars.

“Through the years, we have also been called to some very unexpected occurrences. One Christmas, we had to attend to a breakout – by a dog which had escaped its family home after eating some of the Christmas dinner!

“Everyone working our team will be in the same situation on Christmas Day – so hopefully we’ll have the time at some point for a shift breakfast or a festive brunch. Since we’re all in the same boat, we’ll no doubt try and make it as Christmassy as possible.

“If I wasn’t working, I’d likely be spending the day with my parents, brother and his young family. I’m going to try and drop some presents over to them early in the morning and if I can, fly by to see them briefly during my shift. I will most definitely see them later in the evening after my shift has ended!

“We’re going to try and make the most of Christmas Day for our police dogs. The two I handle, PD Jax and PD Scout, have written their letters to Santa Paws and will definitely be on his nice list. They’ve been the bestest of boys once again this year and have looked after me, my colleagues and our communities. We’re confident Santa Paws will deliver the toys and treats they have been asking for all year!”

 

 

Inspector Craig Bannister, Force Incident Manager, Public Service Centre:

"I’ll be working on Christmas Day as the Force Incident Manager. I’m in charge of the Force Control Room and have overall responsibility for the policing response for all calls for service reported to the force – making sure that the right police resources are sent and critically that they respond in line with the urgency needed. My shift starts at 6am and I’ll be relieved of my duties at 2pm by another Force Incident Manager working the afternoon duty.

"My duties will be allocating dispatchers to the various radio channels covering the force area, monitoring incoming 999 call demand, reviewing outstanding calls for service to ensure we are prioritising attendance at incidents according to the risk and commanding various specialist resources such as armed officers, roads policing officers, territorial support teams, dog handlers and even the force helicopter.

"On Christmas Day we’ll continue to receive many of the routine calls that we would any other day, such as domestic incidents and burglaries. It is absolutely heartbreaking to hear of families having their homes broken into and having Christmas gifts stolen or families living with the consequences of serious domestic incidents.

"We will also respond to people across the force area who are in mental health crisis and emergency as this can be a difficult time of year for people for a variety of reasons.  Unfortunately, we’re also likely to see serious or even fatal road traffic collisions on our road networks and despite our annual Christmas drink drive campaigns, we will still see people taking chances driving whilst intoxicated which all too often have fatal or life changing consequences.

"A few colleagues have volunteered to make breakfast for all control room teams on Christmas Day, so if we can, we’ll try and have a festive breakfast together at some point. We’ll also try as best we can to keep morale high in between calls. Last year, there were debates about the best way to roast potatoes, which seem to both raise eyebrows and a few laughs.

"I have worked 18 Christmases since being in the Force and while the thought of going into work on Christmas Day is never pleasant, the camaraderie has been infectious and has definitely helped. You sometimes leave work having felt you’ve spent the day with family.

"For me, this Christmas will be all about my friends – many of whom also work for the police or in other emergency services. I’ve been invited for a late Christmas dinner and a buffet on boxing day which I’m really looking forward to. It’ll give us all opportunities to share some festive cheer, reflect on 2025 and discuss the New Year’s resolutions that we probably won’t stick to!"

 

 

Detective Chief Inspector, Matt Davies, Major Crime Investigation Team:

"Christmas Day for me will be spent on-call as one of the Force’s Senior Investigating Officers (SIO) based in Bridgend. I’ll be supported by a detective constable, and will be reviewing daily summary incidents, serious assaults, and any reported sudden deaths from the previous 24 hours.

"I’ll also touch base with the other on-call SIOs to see whether anything requires advice from Major Crime, further assistance, or formal adoption. I’ll then dial into a tactical meeting before remaining on call through to 8am on Boxing Day, when I’ll hand over.

"In terms of callouts, I can expect to be contacted for any suspected homicides or suspicious sudden deaths, serious assaults where injuries are life-threatening and survivability is unlikely, and any crimes in action such as abduction or kidnap. I’d also be involved in high risk missing person investigations where there is a suspected criminal element.

"As for Christmas itself, I’m hoping that if things are calm, I’ll be able to join my wife and family later in the morning, and celebrate as we usually do, albeit with one eye on the phone. Full festive indulgence will have to wait until Boxing Day!"