Constable Russell White Ministry of Defence Police
The Man Russell White was born on Wednesday 8th August 1962 at Bellshill, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire to Robert and May White, he had a younger sister, Isobel. In later life he married Angela, who worked for the NHS.
Russell attended Holytown Primary and Bellshill Academy and in In 1978 aged 16, left School and commenced an apprenticeship as a welder with Sir Alexander Findlay’s, then moved on to different companies until 1990, when aged 28 he joined The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) to be based at the Royal Naval Armaments Depot (RNAD) at Loch Long, Argyll, Coulport.
Russell’s initial recruits’ course, on which he was the second oldest student, was the first where students were required to pass an Authorised Firearms Officers (AFO) course. This involved tactical phases and various qualifying shoots with a 9mm pistol. Unfortunately, several of his colleagues did not achieve the required standards and were subsequently dismissed. In Russell’s own words ‘A stressful time for all’!
After 3 months and completion of the course, he commenced shift work. These consisted of early, late and night shifts and officers were required to work an enormous amount of overtime, but as Russell had recently relocated and purchased a new house, this was welcome.
About a year into Russell’s two-year probation, he was asked to apply for control room duties. After completing the course, most of his shifts were within this environment which could be demanding at times. The constant threat of terrorism or incursions into the RNAD by Peace Protestors, adding to the pressures. Due to the sensitive nature of the establishment, any alarms, fire, radiation, environmental or intruder were taken extremely seriously.
Russell attended Holytown Primary and Bellshill Academy and in In 1978 aged 16, left School and commenced an apprenticeship as a welder with Sir Alexander Findlay’s, then moved on to different companies until 1990, when aged 28 he joined The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) to be based at the Royal Naval Armaments Depot (RNAD) at Loch Long, Argyll, Coulport.
Russell’s initial recruits’ course, on which he was the second oldest student, was the first where students were required to pass an Authorised Firearms Officers (AFO) course. This involved tactical phases and various qualifying shoots with a 9mm pistol. Unfortunately, several of his colleagues did not achieve the required standards and were subsequently dismissed. In Russell’s own words ‘A stressful time for all’!
After 3 months and completion of the course, he commenced shift work. These consisted of early, late and night shifts and officers were required to work an enormous amount of overtime, but as Russell had recently relocated and purchased a new house, this was welcome.
About a year into Russell’s two-year probation, he was asked to apply for control room duties. After completing the course, most of his shifts were within this environment which could be demanding at times. The constant threat of terrorism or incursions into the RNAD by Peace Protestors, adding to the pressures. Due to the sensitive nature of the establishment, any alarms, fire, radiation, environmental or intruder were taken extremely seriously.
A decision was taken in 1998 to train and arm MDP to Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) standards. Russell applied for and was successfully passed the demanding course. He began his driver training in earnest and completed Standard Response Training as a required element. This became virtually his sole duty for the next five years. Russell said “This was an exciting period and there were quite a few adventures, including identifying and pursuing suspected terrorists, and searching a commune with carbines drawn and a police helicopter guiding us with a searchlight. Heady and scary episodes”
In 2003 An opportunity arose to detach to the Scottish Police Authority in Glasgow and work for Crimestoppers for six months. Russell applied and was successful and it became two years and was a fantastic job. Answering calls and advising civilian colleagues, interrogating and supplying intel logs to the intelligence database. One memorable event Russell recalls was a caller stating he was witnessing a murder in real-time. As all calls were anonymous, he was required to get as much detail from the caller as possible, call the nearest police office, guide them to the incident, and ensure the caller's anonymity and safety. A male was arrested at the scene and was subsequently charged and imprisoned for murder. For this Russell received a commendation.
Russell also received a commendation for identifying and assisting the arrest of an offender who sexually assaulted a child. This was achieved by taking a call, interrogating the intelligence database and identifying a potential offender from the intel gleaned. A very satisfying result!
As Russell’s time at Crimestoppers was ending he applied and was successful in becoming the Unit Beat Officer for MDP in Helensburgh in 2006 This was a reaction to high levels of crime within the area and he was given an office in the middle of an estate and a general ‘free rein’ to fix the problem.
In 2003 An opportunity arose to detach to the Scottish Police Authority in Glasgow and work for Crimestoppers for six months. Russell applied and was successful and it became two years and was a fantastic job. Answering calls and advising civilian colleagues, interrogating and supplying intel logs to the intelligence database. One memorable event Russell recalls was a caller stating he was witnessing a murder in real-time. As all calls were anonymous, he was required to get as much detail from the caller as possible, call the nearest police office, guide them to the incident, and ensure the caller's anonymity and safety. A male was arrested at the scene and was subsequently charged and imprisoned for murder. For this Russell received a commendation.
Russell also received a commendation for identifying and assisting the arrest of an offender who sexually assaulted a child. This was achieved by taking a call, interrogating the intelligence database and identifying a potential offender from the intel gleaned. A very satisfying result!
As Russell’s time at Crimestoppers was ending he applied and was successful in becoming the Unit Beat Officer for MDP in Helensburgh in 2006 This was a reaction to high levels of crime within the area and he was given an office in the middle of an estate and a general ‘free rein’ to fix the problem.
A policing plan to win the hearts and minds of the younger community began with involving local youngsters in football and basketball competitions, the first such drawing over 60 children. This grew and a Midnite Soccer League evolved, additionally a Blue Light Disco was initiated, where the emergency services organised and oversaw the disco for the children. Every child in secondary school was entitled to attend, provided they had been attending school, were not being censured and that they consented to an alcohol breath test and the presence of a police dog trained to detect drugs.
At its height, over 300 children and a lot of cash was raised for local community events and the youngsters were represented on the committee and chose where the money went.
This approach and a no-nonsense approach to the older community members who were constantly offending gave a crime reduction statistic of a decrease of 86% in 18 months. This was reported on national news when the statistics were announced. Old fashioned policing was the model, it worked and still does!
Russell received several awards and commendations, The Blue Light Disco won a community award presented by HM The Queen's Equerry, a recognition award for the crime reduction within the area and a commendation for saving the life of a man attempting suicide at Loch Lomond.
Russell said “The awards were presented to me, my name is on the certificates, however they belong to my colleagues and the community I proudly served for 12 years in Helensburgh”.
After 12 happy and enjoyable years in this role, Russell retired from the Police in 2018, aged 56 after a 28-year police career. He said ”I had the best job in the world, but time catches up with us all”.
Following retirement Russell enjoys holidays, reading, cinema and playing the guitar ...badly!
At its height, over 300 children and a lot of cash was raised for local community events and the youngsters were represented on the committee and chose where the money went.
This approach and a no-nonsense approach to the older community members who were constantly offending gave a crime reduction statistic of a decrease of 86% in 18 months. This was reported on national news when the statistics were announced. Old fashioned policing was the model, it worked and still does!
Russell received several awards and commendations, The Blue Light Disco won a community award presented by HM The Queen's Equerry, a recognition award for the crime reduction within the area and a commendation for saving the life of a man attempting suicide at Loch Lomond.
Russell said “The awards were presented to me, my name is on the certificates, however they belong to my colleagues and the community I proudly served for 12 years in Helensburgh”.
After 12 happy and enjoyable years in this role, Russell retired from the Police in 2018, aged 56 after a 28-year police career. He said ”I had the best job in the world, but time catches up with us all”.
Following retirement Russell enjoys holidays, reading, cinema and playing the guitar ...badly!
The Story The medals awarded to Russell White were acquired direct from Russell on e-Bay on 29th August 2021 following some negotiation.
Russell kindly agreed to provide some biographical details and photographs that enabled a detailed biography to be completed.
Whilst not a scarce set of medals, they belong to a Police Officer who proudly served his community in different roles for nearly 30 years.
Russell kindly agreed to provide some biographical details and photographs that enabled a detailed biography to be completed.
Whilst not a scarce set of medals, they belong to a Police Officer who proudly served his community in different roles for nearly 30 years.
Medal Details:
- Golden Jubilee Medal 2002: Unnamed as awarded.
- Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012: Unnamed as awarded.
- Police Exemplary Service Medal: CONST RUSSELL WHITE
This page last updated 21 Jun 22
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