Penny Lancaster wants more special constables like her on patrol – so women feel safe on the streets.
The Loose Women star – wife of singer Sir Rod Stewart – said having more females on the beat would help reassure other women.
Penny, 51, who made her first arrest last week since becoming a special constable with City Of London Police two years ago (2020), urged others to volunteer for duty so they too can make a difference.
Forces across Britain introduced safer streets campaigns to help women feel better protected following the murder of marketing executive Sarah Everard by serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 49.
He is serving a whole life sentence after abducting, raping and killing the 33-year-old as she walked home from a pal’s house in south London last March (2021).
Penny completed her training a month later (April 21) after being inspired to volunteer following an appearance in Channel 4 show Famous and Fighting Crime.
She said getting more women on patrol was key to making others feel protected.
“I’m really hoping for women to come forward and volunteer because we need that variation in the force to represent the public and to make women in particular feel safe,’’ she said.
“I feel so humbled that taking on this position myself has encouraged other women who maybe thought it wasn’t possible to give them that step up.
“I thought, ‘Is it possible? Could I really? Yeah, why not?’ The path is actually an easy route to take if you’ve got that time to give.
“It really is worthwhile. It’s so important.”
Penny added: “Everyone, I imagine, who is in the fortunate position that we are in wants to give back. We do our bit with charity.
“But there’s nothing like making a difference every single day. And as a special constable out on foot patrol you come into contact with the public every day when you’re on duty and you really do make a difference. I love it.’’
(Image: penny.lancaster/Instagram)
The mum-of-two, who married Sir Rod, 77, in 2007, volunteered as a special after being confronted by a drug dealer who threatened to stab her while making the TV programme.
She does around 200-hours-a-year, mainly on foot patrol, but also working with sniffer dogs and taking part in special operations like the London Marathon, the Lord Mayor’s Show and forthcoming Queen’s Jubilee.
Her first arrest was a drug-driving suspect she spotted while on mobile patrol with colleagues. After he was pulled over and tested positive for cannabis at the roadside Penny read him his rights and took him into custody.
She said at the time being a mum and having the patience and the empathy to deal with teenagers helped her police work.
“A lot of the time you think policing and you think crime but you’re dealing with victims,’’ she added.
For more of the latest showbiz and TV news from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
