The Flyer
Volunteer
Mortgage problems when
Volunteer with
Suffolk Constabulary a relationship ends
Special Sergeant
David Bones joined
Suffolk’s Special
Constabulary in
May 2009. He is
currently based
at Framlingham
and carries out
duties with Leiston
Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) and
Halesworth Response Team. Duties can
consist of anything from carrying out
weekend public order patrols, assisting
with speed enforcement, plain clothes
patrols to targeting specifi c issues and
assisting on drug warrants.
David started considering the Special
Constabulary when he returned to
the UK after working for a decade
overseas as an engineer.
“It did take some time to reconcile
performing the challenging role of a
police offi cer with no remuneration other
than expenses,” said David. “With the
passing of time, I decided that like most
members of the public, I would like to
see far more police on the streets, but
didn’t particularly want to pay more in
taxes to achieve this. The solution—to
give time rather than pay higher taxes,
and it’s a situation that I am quite happy
with.”
David works around 20 to 30 hours per
month spread over three or four duties.
He usually commits a couple of weeks
in advance meaning both his family and
police colleagues know when he will be
on duty.
David said: “Many of the situations
you will fi nd yourself in demand a very
quick assessment of an often diffi cult
or volatile situation, so problem solving
and decision making skills whilst under
pressure cannot fail to be considerably
enhanced. Many corporate organisations
spend thousands sending their
employees on so-called team-building
2
or problem solving courses, when they
could in fact have the real thing for free
courtesy of their local constabulary.
“In 2011 I was given the chance
to undertake the three week police
standard driving course. It was a superb
course and I have always considered it a
form of reward for the hours I put in and
feel very privileged indeed to have been
offered it.”
David believes that having ‘special
constable’ on a CV could be seen as
an advantage by any future employer
considering you. It can almost be
considered as a unique qualifi cation
in its own right and may well set any
candidate apart from the rest.
“However, it cannot be underestimated
as I think it is probably among the
most complicated and demanding
volunteering roles you could choose
and needs an appropriate level of
commitment,” said David. “When the
public encounter you, they expect you
to perform the role of a properly trained
offi cer and nothing less.
“One thing I didn’t expect over time was
to be welcomed as a genuinely valued
member of my local SNT by the entire
team and not just an outsider. Though
it may sound a little cliché, I now feel
immensely proud to serve as a special
constable.”
Q. My daughter
and her partner
purchased a
house together
three years ago.
The partner has
now left and
Georgina Hawkes
my daughter is
struggling to pay the mortgage
on her own. The property is on the
market for sale but no buyer has
yet been found. The ex-partner is
refusing to contribute towards the
mortgage as they now have rental
commitments. Unfortunately, I am
not in a position to help. What
should my daughter do?
A. This is a very diffi cult situation to
which there are no easy answers.
As joint owners of the property your
daughter and her ex-partner are
“jointly and severally” liable for
the mortgage debt. The mortgage
company can look to either of them for
payment of the outstanding debt but
inevitably start with the occupier of
the property.
Your daughter is doing the right thing
in trying to sell the property. Until
the property is sold the ex-partner
is technically still responsible for the
mortgage payments. However, if they
have no funds there is little point in
pursuing them further.
My advice is to speak to the mortgage
company and explain the situation.
They may allow your daughter to make
reduced mortgage payments until the
sale goes through. Unfortunately, there
may be fi nancial penalties for making
reduced payments.
Once the property is sold, your
daughter may be able to recoup her
fi nancial losses by agreeing with her
ex-partner that she may have a larger
share of the net proceeds of sale, but
they cannot be forced to do so.
If you would like further information
about how to become a special
constable, or to attend one of our
Information events, please visit www.
suffolk.pnn.police.uk/joinus or contact
us via email specialsandvolunteers@
suffolk.pnn.police.uk or phone on 01473
613589.
If you feel that becoming a special
constable is not for you, have you
considered our Police Support Volunteer
Scheme? For more information about
this, contact us using the details above.
TH E FLYER | JU N E 2 0 1 8
Pl ease menti on ‘The Fl yer’ when respondi ng to adv e rti s e me nts