Veterans Aid and Staffordshire Police join forces to expedite care for veterans
Pictured from left: CIP Lucy Maskew, CEO Veterans Aid Dr Hugh Milroy, Veterans Aid Criminal Justice Officer Paul Ellis, Chief Constable Chris Noble and CSP Will Sharrard-Williams
Veterans Aid and Staffordshire Police have signed a partnership agreement in recognition of how working together can expedite the delivery of speedy intervention and support to veterans in crisis.
CEO of Veterans Aid Dr Hugh Milroy and Chief Constable Chris Noble signed the agreement at Staffordshire Police headquarters on July 5th.
In doing so Staffordshire becomes the seventh UK police force to establish formal links with the charity in a bid to act as a force multiplier for delivery of crisis action. The charity's frontline team - which includes a dedicated Criminal Justice Outreach officer - has been hosting familiarisation visits with police officers and aspiring officers since 2019 when Police NOW visitors first spent time in its Operations Centre.
Dr Milroy said: "These partnerships aren't just about helping veterans who have got into trouble. They are a way of using police officers as eyes and ears so that veterans who may need help can be identified early and steered towards Veterans Aid’s highly successful wellbeing support package. We have been developing this comprehensive support methodology for police services across the country for some years and I'm delighted that the Staffordshire force has now become part of it. It promotes genuine community engagement which so many see as a critical element of police work.
"Working together in this manner is the way forward. I am delighted to have the Chief Constable's formal support in this initiative and deeply grateful for his commitment to ensuring that former service personnel and their families get the help that they need, when and where they need it.”
Chief Constable Noble said: “I’m delighted to be able to sign this agreement and start what I am sure will be a very effective partnership with Veterans Aid. This partnership will allow us to provide bespoke support to serving and former members of HM Armed Forces who are in crisis and is a further development as we work to deliver on our Armed Forces Covenant pledges.
"Veterans Aid come with over 90 years of experience providing specialist support to meet the needs of veterans in crisis and I’m sure their outstanding work in other parts of the country will benefit the veteran community of Staffordshire.
Dr Milroy added: "Veterans Aid prioritises prevention in its approach to care for members of the Armed Forces community; police services with the vision to work with us in this way are helping us to stop adversity in its tracks and mitigate the damage caused by entrenched homelessness, addiction, debt and the increasing impact of poverty."
Staffordshire Police is working hard to improve its service to all communities within the county and last year the Chief Constable signed the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of the force. In June it was awarded the Silver Employer Recognition Award by the Ministry of Defence in recognition of its work to deliver on the Armed Forces Covenant. It regards the new partnership with Veterans Aid is an important step in delivering on is Covenant pledges. The force presently employs more than 40 veterans or members of military families.
