First of all, I hope you’re having a happy and peaceful Christmas. That yesterday went well and that you can look forward to a happy and healthy New Year.

Just as this is the time when we look forward to spending some time with our family and friends, I like to visit as many of our police stations as possible to thank our officers and staff for their service, commitment and can-do approach during the previous 12 months.

I have seen these qualities for myself, whether observing officers on patrol, at their operational centres or at other places of work. Their professionalism and resourcefulness shines through, not least when dealing with dangerous or difficult situations where people’s lives are at risk. Being able to remain calm and focused in a crisis is what policing is all about, but there is another quality that is not spoken about enough, and that is courage. Both physical and moral.

That, perhaps above everything, stands-out to me as I have read, heard and seen for myself the incredible things members of our Constabulary have done in the line of duty. Confronting individuals and organised crime groups who have sought to harm others, fulfilling their obligation to keep the public safe. As your elected representative, I am proud to be able to thank them, on your behalf, for their outstanding public service during the last year.

The end of a year is not just about reflection but celebration too, as we look back over the previous 12 months and consider what we’ve gone through and what we’ve achieved. This has been a very challenging period for the police nationally and, regretfully, sometimes locally too. Finding itself in the news for the wrong reasons. But I hope the support I and my team were able to offer has helped bring stability to the Constabulary and, when and where it was needed, reassurance to the public. We cannot know what 2025 has in store for us, but I know the calibre of the people we have in the Constabulary will be equal to whatever fate throws at it.

I hope that you too are able to look back on 2024 as a year of achievement and pride. And that as you enjoy what is left of the holiday, my Christmas wish for you is that 2025 is at least as good, and if not, better.