Queen's Birthday Honour for South West Water employee

Buster Brown MBE

Buster Brown from Cruwys Morchard near Tiverton was appointed MBE at the weekend.

The former Royal Marine has been Special Constabulary Chief Officer for Devon and Cornwall Constabulary since 2003 and was the first special constable in the force to hold the role.

Buster, who is South West Water's Emergency Planning and Security Manager, said: "It is a real honour to receive this award. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the specials and South West Water has fully supported me to carry out this role.

"After leaving the Royal Marines I was interested in joining the police and wanted to pursue voluntary work at the same time so my wife directed me to an advert about joining the specials."

The Special Constabulary is the United Kingdom's part-time police force. It is made up of volunteer members of the public who when on duty wear a uniform and have full police powers.

Buster added: "It is a lot of commitment and it is not just a case of volunteering to do a few police patrols. I manage 360 special officers across two counties and represent the region nationally. But you are not a lone wolf in this role. It is about having a good, strong team work with you."

Two years after starting work at South West Water in 1991, Buster joined Devon and Cornwall Special Constabulary and during his service has helped develop the National Strategy for the Special Constabulary, sat on the national working group for the Special Constabulary and represented the region at the Home Office (now the National Police Improvement Agency).

Buster is set to retire from the Special Constabulary in September.

Published: 18 June 2012

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