Rural Community Police Officer
covering Martlesham and the Orwell Villages
including Trimley
Police Constable 459, Arlene Ell
And today’s good news is the presence of Police Constable Ell in the Trimley community. You may be already familiar with her and aware of her role but for the many people who are not, let me introduce you to the friendly local face of Suffolk Constabulary.
P.C. Arlene Ell is not the first officer to fill the role of Rural Community Police Officer and is comparatively new to the post, starting at the end of 2025. Two or three years ago, Suffolk Constabulary introduced a new policing model geared at prioritising public engagement and giving the local community what they need from their police service. It is a low-level service aimed at creating safer communities through encouraging two-way respect and communication. It’s about being seen on the streets to help further confidence in the Police. Arlene told me that from the moment she heard about this approach, she knew this was a role where she could contribute and make a difference. I was interested to understand why.
At the start of this year, we sat down together and I learnt more about Arlene and her role. Apart from the Christmas event,it wasn’t my first conversation with Arlene. Initially, I met her way back in September 2022 after the death of Queen Elizabeth. Then, I went walkabout to gauge the feelings of villagers about the Queen’s demise[i] and the first place I visited was The Hand in Hand. Of course. This was where I met Arlene, then a comparatively new Police Constable based in Felixstowe. She was off-duty and willingly responded to my request for her reaction to the event. Her reaction was immediate and moving, as I then recorded:
‘…Arlene’s patch covered Walton and Felixstowe and…she was working nights. When the news broke, she woke to find a text message from her sister filling her in on what had happened. Arlene arrived at the Police Station to find the flags were already flying at half-mast. She and her fellow officers felt they should do something but were at a loss to know quite what it might be. They completed the simplest but most heartfelt of tasks in respect for the Queen; they polished their boots.’
Arlene’s boots without the usual high polish after walking the muddy streets of Trimley.
“It took a full year for me to break them in.”
I was struck by this moving acknowledgement and remember thinking firstly, there is more to Arlene than immediately meets the eye and secondly, it would be great to interview her for the Trimley Recorder’s Blog site. But time moved on and our paths didn’t cross again until December 2025, when I went to the Memorial Hall for the Lighting of the Christmas tree when Trimley Saints Players organise the Memorial Hall’s start to Christmas with lights, music and Father Christmas. Inside the Hall, I turned around to find Arlene in full uniform celebrating the occasion and talking to the seasonal revellers who were enjoying the free soup and bread.
Arlene at the Christmas Tree event in the Memorial Hall, 2nd December 2025.
At the time, not many people in the room knew Arlene had recently been appointed as the Rural Community Police Officer for Martlesham and Orwell. The people around me were delighted to learn we share a dedicated Police Officer who is visible and involved in her villages. “Come and talk to me,” one slightly older resident told Arlene, “It’s good to see the Police in the village again. We could do someone on the streets. If you call round, I’ll always give you a cup of coffee.” Clearly Arlene was up for such delights and although an invitation didn’t immediately come from me, we did meet up at the start of this year.
A coffee moment for Arlene.
Over a coffee pot, Arlene told me her extensive patch covers the Trimleys, Kirton, Falkenham, Buklesham, Purdis Farm, Brightwell, Foxhall, Nacton and Martlesham and that five other Community officers cover Felixstowe. Her new role encompasses everything which had encouraged her to go into Policing during the Covid years. This prompted another question.
What is her motivation and why did Arlene go into policing? Well, Arlene’s working life began as a school leaver when she knew she wanted to help people. Her personal beliefs led her to the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham. The course she took was focused on enabling her to help people in troubled times. Her original aim became slightly derailed because she met her future husband and moved back to her hometown of Felixstow sometime in 2011. They started working together in their own business, working together in the I.T. field. Sometime before the outbreak of Covid, the business was sold and Arlene took time out to reflect on what she really wanted to do with her life. After much thought, the considered result was to start a career in policing because, importantly, she wanted to make a difference and of course, help people in troubled times. Her graduation from Suffolk Constabulary was during Covid times.
Arlene graduting in 2021
But the important result was achieved and shortly after this Arlene started policing in 2021, initially based in the centre of Ipswich, then she moved to the frontline response team in Felixstowe in 2023. After nearly five in Suffolk Constabulary, an opportunity arose to move into a different policing role and one Arlene wanted to fill. From the moment she learnt about the community policing initiative in 2023, Arlene felt this was exactly what she wanted.for In November 2025, she was given the post of Rural Community Police Officer.
Arlene’s Uniform
Why Community policing? What was the attraction of policing such an extensive area?
“ I live in Trimley St Martin and like the idea of personal policing. I want people to take pride in where they live and I want to help make a community where this happens. Plus, I want to help people in troubled times.”
Community Police Officers have the flexibility to create their own structures always knowing they have backup and support available. Visibility and relationship forming are a key feature of the work and help engender trust and understanding. More of an Us and Us approach rather than a Them and Us attitude. As a consequence making first contact is high on Arlene’s agenda and when we spoke Bucklesham Parish Council had already been introduced to her role at Meetings. Education and understanding between the police and the Public is vital at all levels and for Arlene,
“Networking is important, as is educating people”
Simply talking to each other creates understanding and helps remove prejudice. As part of her aim to engage people, Arlene is introducing a Beat in her Area and the chances are you will see her on the move. You can stop her and talk to her about any concerns you may have or, just stop her to learn more about her role.
Communication is important
Such is Arlene’s dedication to her work, it would appear this has extended to her property which many, many decades ago was a village Police Station, although not now necessarily one you would recognise as such. She was pleased to inform me her utility room, containing her washing machine and laundry equipment, was once a One-Man prison cell. What better place is there to place your dirty linen?
The former one-man cell in Arlene’s house, Now her Utility/Laundry room
If you have concerns about dubious low-level activities in your neighbourhood Arlene’s contact details are below. Arlene said,
‘Our ‘bread and butter’ is any Antisocial Behaviour. (A.S.B.)‘
Low level concerns might cover something like the ‘Nottingham Knockers’ as they are known locally. You may have experienced such people going from door to door on cold calling missions. Arlene can offer you stickers which say ‘No’ to such callers. However, if you have any concerns which are immediate, serious and urgent you should always call 101 or 999 to receive an immediate response. If in doubt, use the phone to shout out. Arlene’s commitment to her role is enhanced by her approachability, warmth, and enthusiasm.
This is the policing our community deserves.
Handcuffs. Part of Arlene’s equipment.
If you are interested in policing and crime in Trimley in earlier times, follow the link below to learn how landowners protected their interests against Criminals and Felons during the 18th and 19th centuries:
If you have any comments or would like to be part of the Trimley St. Martin project, please contact me at:
trimleystmartinrecorder@gmail.com
Liz Rastrick
Trimley St. Martin Village Recorder
10th February 2026
[i] https://trimleystmartinrecordersblog.com/2022/09/18/they-polished-their-boots-trimley-reacts-to-the-death-of-queen-elizabeth-ii/
Trimley St Martin Recorder's Blog 
Thank you Liz
A splendid introduction to our lovely Community Police Officer. She has met a lot of people in Kirton. People definitely feel reassured by her presence.
Susan Harvey
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