PC Stuart Hepburn is Back on the Beat in H&F
One of the first retired officers to respond to appeal from Commissioner
PC Stuart Hepburn
Retired policeman PC Stuart Hepburn is back on the beat in Hammersmith & Fulham - just over two weeks after Commissioner Cressida Dick appealed to former colleagues to return.
He is among the first intake of ten officers, who have more than 250 years policing experience between them, returning to duty this week.
PC Hepburn, 53 retired from the Met in 2017 after 30 years of service. He joined the Met as a 'bobby on the beat' in 1987 when he was 21 years old and later held roles with the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection (PaDP) team, protecting iconic sites in central London.
PC Hepburn is joining emergency response on the Central West Basic Command Unit (BCU) where he will be responding to emergency calls from the public in the boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham and Westminster - including Oxford Street, which was his first ever beat.
PC Hepburn said: "I had no doubts about returning to help my colleagues and serve London once again. I felt I couldn’t sit at home and watch, I wanted to help, so I applied straight away.
"I’m looking forward to seeing old colleagues again and the camaraderie that comes with the 'job' that is really like no other."
A second intake of 17 officers began their bespoke training at Hendon this week before quickly returning to London’s streets.
In addition, more than 50 former officers have now applied to return as members of the Special Constabulary where they will be committing to at least 16 hours a week. Other officers are amongst more than 300 people who want to volunteer with the Met.
Those wishing to apply to return but have yet to do so, are being urged to complete a simple online form to ensure the process is as fast as possible. The Commissioner has also asked serving Met officers who are nearing 30 years' pensionable service to delay their retirement and stay as a member of the Met.
Commissioner Cressida Dick said: " It is wonderful to see the first of our former colleagues joining us this week. Their valuable skills and experience are helping increase the Met’s resilience and allow us to be even more flexible in providing the best service we can to London during this unprecedented time as the country – and the Capital – responds to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
"I am very grateful to all of them for not hesitating to come back and not surprised they still hold strong the same desire to help people and keep people safe as the very first day they joined. I have no doubt they will join their colleagues in displaying the best of British policing values at this challenging time for us all."
April 17, 2020