A Lincolnshire Police sergeant recalled what she described as “one of the strangest incidents I’ve dealt with in my career” after featuring in Channel 5’s Inside The Force: 24/7.
Sergeant Rosy Elkins has worked for Lincolnshire Police for 12 years and was among those who agreed to feature in the eight-part series, which was produced by Mentorn Media and filmed as the lockdown restrictions eased in summer 2021.
Episode four included an incident in which Rosy was single-crewed and arrested an aggressive man who assaulted a woman. She accidentally got sprayed with PAVA (similar to pepper) spray whilst restraining him in the police car and she faced a wait for back up to arrive.
Sergeants Rosy Elkins and Dan Cooper from Lincolnshire Police both featured in Channel 5’s Inside The Force: 24/7. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Lincolnite went to South Park station to meet Rosy and her colleague Response Sergeant Dan Cooper (read his interview on Thursday), to speak about their time on the Channel 5 show and their work at the lowest funded police force in the country.
Recalling the incident, Rosy told The Lincolnite: “This is one of the strangest incidents I’ve dealt with in my career – normally you don’t get your evidence handed to you on a plate quite as I did.
“So this gentleman’s partner kindly came over and told me that he’s run off with a kitchen knife, and it was from a set and one of her best ones. And then with that, his behaviour changed dramatically, and I could sense it was going to.
“He then tried to run past me and run out to the car, and I knew there was nobody else to come because there had just been an assistance shout in town, so I knew I was on my own.
“I just kept him there as safely as I could until some help could come. But I’ve been doing this job for quite a while and I’m quite good at handling myself. I knew that I’d be okay until somebody could get there and I know that my team is cracking.”
Mum-of-two Rosy Elkins loves her job and is proud to be serving the city of Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Rosy is unphased about attending incidents single-crewed and, when asked if she was worried for her safety when the man got aggressive, she added: “You always have a moment with all jobs where you go ‘this could go wrong’, but you’ve got to put it to the back of your head because otherwise if you’ve got that mentality of a one might lose then you probably will.
“Whereas, if you think ‘I can keep him here for as long as it takes for someone to come and help me’ then I think you’re more likely to be okay. I know my team are coming as quick as they can and they’re going to help me out.”
Rosy also isn’t the only person to accidentally get sprayed with PAVA. In other episodes during the eight-part series other officers sprayed themselves by mistake.
She added: “PAVA is a fantastic tool for evening things up. So in the incident where I used PAVA, the gentleman was a lot taller than me and a lot bigger build than me, and one on one in a fight, he would beat me.
“So for me, you use it to try and even things up a little bit and make sure that I’ve got a chance of keeping everybody safe. In that incident his partner was just standing across the road from us, and obviously I was concerned for her safety as well as my own.
“But unfortunately, once you’re close quarters and using it, it’s a bounce back. So it gets into the atmosphere around you and it can bounce back onto you, and it really does sting… it is particularly painful but it is a fantastic piece of kit that we wouldn’t want to be without.”
Sergeant Rosy Elkins inside a police car. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Reporter Joseph Verney spent time with Sergeants Rosy Elkins and Dan Cooper South Park Police Station in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Rosy feels the television show portrayed Lincolnshire Police “in a really good light” and she felt proud to be among the female officers featured, alongside colleagues including Nicky Duke, Chloe Barnett, and Amy Burnett.
“I think it’s fantastic and it’s really showing that you don’t have to be a six foot four, burly Dan Cooper of a man to do this job,” she joked. “There’s a lot more skills that are required to be a really good police officer.
“We’ve got some cracking female police officers and it makes me proud to work among and with them.
“Hopefully someone will see what we’ve done on TV and think, actually that is the job for me and I want to join.
“Get an application in because it really is the best job going and even after 12 years I still love it every day.”
Rosy spoke about how much she loves her job at Lincolnshire Police. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
It is a big balancing act for the mum-of-two who has to juggle childcare and her shifts, and sometimes give up rest days or annual leave to help the cause at work, even at Christmas and New Year, but “you make it work because it’s the job I want to do,” said Rosy.
When asked if she would like to be in more episodes if a third series was to be commissioned in the future, Rosy said: “Yes probably. My daughter is nine and she’s asked me what I do for a living and there’s no way you can describe to a nine-year-old what you do.”
Rosy said having cameras follow them around was “strange” at first, but then “instinct took over” as they responded to incidents. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Rosy added: “I wouldn’t normally let her watch anything on TV with swearing and fighting, but I’ve let her sit and watch the episode that I’m in and she absolutely loved it.
“She now understands what I do. When I come home and I’m tired, and I’ve got bruises down my arms and PAVA on my skin, she now understands what’s probably happened leading up to that.
“I am proud that I can show my family what I do and they sort of understand a bit more of what I’m putting myself forward to do each day and what my job actually means rather than just ‘oh, I’m a police officer’.”
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A ‘five star’ holiday park application which people either love or hate is up for approval next week.
Locals living in Market Rasen are fiercely against the idea, but others believe it would be a ‘huge asset’ for the town.
The proposed site near the racecourse on Legsby Road would include space for 79 static caravans, and is recommended for approval.
Greens Park Homes promises that it would be “well above standards for traditional static caravan parks, and significantly higher than touring caravans. The aim of the park is to provide five-star self-catering holiday accommodation.”
However, local residents have objected to the size, closeness to existing properties and a potential increase in traffic.
One Market Rasen resident said: “Well this is a Marmite application! People from outside the locale seem in favour, local people less so and I am amongst these. This is a rural road used by walkers and cyclists to access our countryside, it is dangerous enough being a near single track road.”
Another said the road is “totally unsuitable for such large infrastructure”, with the town council also raising concerns about the scale.
The proposed site would make it easy for holidaymakers to visit the racecourse or golf course | Photo: Google
However, potential holidaymakers think a caravan site could be just what the town needs.
“Market Rasen needs five star holiday facilities. The town is struggling so increasing visits by tourist will put it on the map,” one person said.
“The development will support the local economy and generate more support for the natural and cultural heritage. Visitors to the Race Course and the beautiful Wolds will benefit from five star second-homes or holiday caravans and lodges.”
Another said: “This proposal will enhance the vision of a new industry of leisure and tourism, bringing support for the racecourse and the golf club and shops and businesses in the town.”
Others described is as a “huge asset”which would boost tourism and blend in to Market Rasen.
New access would be created to the site off Legsby Road.
Council officers have recommended that the plans are given the green light, and West Lindsey District Council’s planning committee will have the final say next week.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson officially announced his resignation after addressing the nation from outside No 10 Downing Street.
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson became Prime Minister on July 24, 2019 after having previously been Foreign Secretary between 2016 and 2018.
He said on Thursday, July 7 that he will stand down as the leader of the Conservative party after more than 50 ministerial resignations. However, he said he’ll serve as PM until the Tories elect a new leader.
In his resignation speech he said “no one in politics is remotely indispensable” as he thanked the millions of people who voted for him.
Boris said he fought for so long to remain at Number 10 because “I thought it was my job, my duty and my obligation to you”, before adding that it was “painful not to see it through”.
He said: “I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world, but them’s the breaks.”
Boris Johnson came under fire for how he handled the coronavirus pandemic, scandals over parties during restrictions, and allegations that Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher groped two men at a private members’ club. He also previously survived a vote of no confidence but, after nearly three years in the role his time is finally up.
In Lincolnshire, Louth and Horncastle MP Victoria Atkins stepped down from her role as Justice Secretary. MP for Grantham and Stamford Gareth Davies, and Sleaford and North Hykeham MP Caroline Johnson resigned the following day.
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