MARTIN DANKS

Lead Investigator (LIO) for serious, complex, and fatal collisions.

Having demonstrated exceptional skills at the PC rank investigating serious and fatal road traffic collision scenes with the ability to organise and liaise with others, including other agencies at scenes ensuring a detailed and professional approach, I was one of a small number of PC’s to be selected for advanced training to fulfil the role of a Lead Investigator (LIO), typically assigned to Sergeant rank and above. Following selection I went on to successfully pass the training and achieve accreditation in that role. I have managed numerous incidents as a LIO with a continued ability to take control of incidents and others and make effective decisions to resolve incidents. This resulting in detailed reports that often have to be presented to senior management, CPS (Crown Prosecution Service), Coroners and other agencies.

I have been dedicated to the role of a Roads Policing Constable for nearly 20 years.

The role requires the ability to often work alone un- supervised and also play a part in a small team (currently 7 PC's). I play a strong role in this and pride myself in remaining aware of current policies, structuring my shifts and patrols to the ever changing requirements set by both the organisation I work for and the public.

My professional approach, ethics and ability to communicate at all levels lead to being asked by the Berkshire RP Inspector to take the role of Acting Sergeant for an RP shift at Taplow for a period of 10 months. A role that I enjoyed and received excellent feedback from other RP Sergeants and management.

Throughout my time on the department I have always performed well above the required level set by management.

My role requires me to attend serious and challenging situations, often being the first emergency responder on scene. Such situations require me to take control. I am proud that I have the abilities to do this in a calm and professional manner. My effective communication and interpersonal skills can often turn chaotic and stressful situations to be more structured and focused.

The role of a RP officer also requires me to have a enhanced First Aid training. Something I have enjoyed and re qualifying in each year.

• Having spent 13 years (1990-2003) as a Special Constable I joined as a Regular officer. Initially being posted to a rural station (Hungerford) before moving to a more urban area (Newbury). Both postings taught me the Policing skills needed, especially communication skills.
• These skills allowed me to deal with hostile and emotional situations, being able defuse or glean important and actuate information.
• This in turn allowed me to make consistently good decisions and exact, detailed investigations.

Due to these skills and others gained I was asked to become a tutor constable to both New recruits and other officers struggling to reach the required level. A role that I both enjoyed and thieved at as it allowed me to demonstrate by ability to share knowledge needed for the role being undertaken.

Being a front line Police Officer for my whole career has meant that shift patterns and working anti social hours is the norm for me. This has also meant that being flexible in times worked and what is required from me is also an important trait to have.

A highly pressurised role requiring the ability to understand and take control of not just one situation but several, with a view to finding appropriate resources and deploying them to incidents, maintaining control at all times with excellent communication skills and record correct and accurate information, ensuring critical information is shared to others, both up and down the chain of command.

The role at times required us to take 999 calls, This often meant communicating and extracting information from others during highly stressful situations. The information had to be accurate and detailed to ensure the correct response keeping Officers and the public safe.

This role upskilled me in the art of communication liaising with all types of people and roles, from calming to commanding, to remain calm under pressure and understand the need to be detailed and as accurate as possible. A skill I utilised, improving in all my the job roles since Control Room.

Having studied Horticulture at the Berkshire College of Agriculture I became one of two qualified Ground Persons employed at the Police Training Centre to maintain the estate and grounds.

One of my main roles aside from the general up keep of the estate was to identify damage / issues and importantly dangers and risks that could harm staff and visitors to the site.

One risk factor was the current condition of many of the trees within the grounds. I identified many such concerns requiring me to then communicate these to the Chief Inspector of the centre to ensure effective remedy and resolution, and set up restrictions to certain areas to ensure the safety of others.