Police

PC Nigel Lord is no stranger to working on Christmas Day.

Out of 11 years on the force at Swindon Central, he has had only one Christmas at home.

As well as the normal working days over the Christmas period, PC Lord is on the rota for Christ-mas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

But, as he points out, someone has to do it. And having worked so many Christmases, he sees it as any other day at the office.

He said: "My wife and four children are very understanding. The older ones accept it now, and I can explain it to the little ones.

"I'm there for unwrapping presents in the morning, and also for the Christmas dinner, which is the main thing. My shift starts at 4pm and finishes at midnight."

It is usual for four officers to be on a shift over Christmas, but PC Lord, 35, explained that policing methods are undergoing changes with a new scheme aimed at keeping up with public needs.

He said: "Sector policing was introduced about six weeks ago and should be completed by the end of January. It will mean that certain areas around Swindon will be designated to a group of officers.

"My sector is Swindon Central, which consists of 25 officers. The shifts will be divided into fives, so that at any one time the area will have five officers on duty.

"The public won't perceive any obvious differences but it will enable officers to concentrate on particular problems. It creates a sort of ownership for that sector."

The bulk of the work over the Christmas period tends to be theft related, with shoplifting and burglary the most common crimes.

He said: "Christmas brings added stress and you find crime being committed by people you wouldn't normally expect. A common reason is the added expense at this time of year, with pressure to buy presents or go out more.

"But domestic problems also increase as families come together and alcohol fuels arguments."

Fire service

FOR firefighter Paul Lawler, working over Christmas is part of the job he feels honoured to do.

Originally from Hampshire, where his father, Terry, is a fire-fighter of 25 years' standing, Paul has been in the service for two years, and is based at Westlea.

He will work a normal shift on Christmas Eve and be on call at home on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. If his pager sounds, he will be at the station, into an engine and heading for an emergency scene within a couple of minutes.

He hopes there are as few call-outs as possible this year, as does his partner, Sarah.

Paul said: "Last year, we were sent to an old people's home where an alarm had gone off, and also to a lot of places where people had burned their Christmas dinners.

"But I really enjoy the job and I'm proud to do it. I always wanted to be a firefighter.

"We work three days on, three days off, so getting the Christmas duty is just the luck of the draw."

But does Paul have any advice for the public over the holiday season?

"Drive carefully, and also be careful with candles at this time of year never leave them unattended.

"And keep your eye on the dinner while it is cooking!"

Ambulance service

CHRISTMAS Day won't start until 6.30pm for paramedic Ron Schofield.

But it's an improvement on last year, when he didn't sit down for a turkey dinner with his wife Joan and daughter Katrina until January 3.

Joan, 40, also works for the ambulance service and often the couple's shift pattern collides, making Christmas difficult to organise.

"In the last 27 years I think I've only had two full Christ-mas Days off with my wife," said Ron.

But he doesn't mind as it's all part of the job.

"We've all know the rota for year so it's no surprise, and my family are used to spending Christmas this way," said Ron.

As a clinical supervisor, Ron responds to all the most serious emergency calls.

He expects most of the incidents over Christmas to involve heart patients.

"We do deal with a lot of heart attacks around Christ-mas and I think that's partly to do with the stress of the situation and lots of food and drink," said Ron.

"Christmas Day is identical to any other day, in that we don't know what to expect.

"But whether we're busy or quiet I'm sure there will still be lots of work to do."