Police chaplain, the Revd Stéphane Javelle says he sees his role as a first responder for officers, staff and the public – a reliable listening ear there to help support their wellbeing.
It’s a role Stéphane says he absolutely loves, giving him a chance to be part of the police community, helping them to handle the everyday pressures that come with the job.
His role is to support their pastoral, emotional and spiritual needs, as well as members of the public, those in custody and their families.
“I’m there for everyone – and a kind of first responder for the officers to help with their wellbeing,” he said. “We have the official Trauma Risk Incident Management (TRIM) process, which helps manage the welfare needs of the officers, but I am here and available whenever they need me. Nothing is recorded in our meetings, so they can speak completely freely in confidence, unless there are any safeguarding concerns. But I am here for all – for our officers, staff and for those brought to the police station or who are in custody. That’s the difference between a vicar and a chaplain – a vicar is there for all in their territory, their parish, while a chaplain is there for a community, whatever and wherever that may be.”
Every day Stéphane attends the station, he first goes round the building saying hello to everyone, often bringing in some tasty treats for the officers and staff to tuck into on their break.
He then goes to the police briefing, of which he has clearance to attend, to find out what operations will take place and where the officers will be. He said he also gets the opportunity to go out with officers on patrol.
“That’s a very exciting part of my role,” he said. “This can be anything from routine patrols, interviews and passing on information to sometimes going out for road traffic incidents. This can sometimes be a serious incident, getting to the scene using the siren and blue lights. I have also been along to arrests and accompanying officers when someone has died, which is really important. You are there with the people on scene, explaining what will happen next, that the paramedics will be released from the scene and contractors from the coroners will attend. That’s an important part of the role for me because I know about the process and can use my skills at the scene – whether it’s calming down or talking with people.”
Stéphane moved to the UK 10 years ago, studying theology in Oxford before moving to Wiltshire as an assistant curate, later taking on a role as police chaplain within the county’s constabulary.
As well as his role as a police chaplain, he is also Rector of Stoke-by-Nayland Benefice with Leavenheath and Polstead, and Nayland with Wissington.
Before moving to England, Stéphane worked in events management for 15 years in Marseilles, a job he says has proved useful in his role here in Suffolk. He said: “Events are extremely regimented in France and you need permission from the town hall to do anything, you need a coordinating agreement and to liaise with the police and fire service. This meant I was already quite used to dealing with the police when I came to England. I was always used to uniforms, I did my conscription in the French Navy and my younger brother is a colonel in the fire service. When I arrived in Suffolk I immediately flagged that I had already worked as a police chaplain. Sudbury police station was 20 minutes from my patch, so it was the perfect fit.”
Stéphane said it was easy to forget the difficulties faced by officers on duty. “Most people are confronted with on average two traumatic situations in their whole life, while police officers will experience several dozen traumatic incidents over their career,” he said. “My role is to be there when they need me, to be a listening ear when they need to speak to someone. In my role there will, of course, be days where not much happens while others are very full on. It’s like the life of a police officer, where they respond to whatever is happening that day. This is especially true in Suffolk, which is among the safest counties in England.”
Archdeacon Rich Henderson, from the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, said: “We are blessed with the ministry of police chaplains in Suffolk, they represent a profound witness to the love and care of Christ within our communities, serving at police stations across the county. An ecumenical team of volunteer chaplains offer spiritual support, pastoral care and a listening presence. They serve both officers and staff with dedication and compassion".
For more on Chaplaincy in Suffolk, visit our website page here.
Photograph credit: Friel PR.