A FAMILIAR face is to go on the beat in a North-East force area having risen from cadet, to ‘special’ and now ‘graduating’ as a fully-fledged cop.

PC Sean Riley is beginning training as a full-time officer with Northumbria Police, seven-and-a-half years after joining as a cadet just as a time filler.

Deployed to events, community engagement opportunities and assisting with issues facing residents all helped build a passion for policing.

The next step on his policing ladder was to become a Special Constable, which he accomplished in January 2017, before being accepted as an officer earlier this month.

PC Riley will be officially deployed following his training period and will be getting to grips with his new role, learning the ropes from those he has worked with and admired while serving as a Special Constable in the past.

“When I first joined as a cadet it was just something to fill my time with, but I fell in love with helping others and really found purpose in what I was doing.

“I carried that on to becoming a Special Constable and now an officer and I’m really excited for what lies ahead.

“I loved my role volunteering as a Special, I made great friends, learned how to support communities and victims and I want to develop that going forward as an officer.”

PC Riley will be initially stationed in north Northumberland, where he grew up, and served as a ‘special’.