RUGBY legend Dean Richards has spent time volunteering with Northumbria Police.

The Newcastle Falcons director of rugby, a former police officer himself, reached out to the force to offer his time.

He provided a welcome extra set of hands to officers from the force’s resilience unit.

Dean helped put together hundreds of PPE kits that have now been handed out to our response teams and frontline officers, helping to keep them safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Superintendent Helena Barron, from the force’s operations department, said: “I want to personally thank Dean for his kind offer to volunteer his time.

“Dean swapped his baton for a rugby ball years ago but will always be part of the wider police family and we thank him for his help in these unprecedented times.”

Dean added: “I know that at times like this people need to work together and help in any way they can. Thanks to Northumbria Police for letting me help in a small way, it was my privilege.”

The Force has gratefully received a number of offers of help, with names being collated should we need to call upon them.

Any former officers, volunteers and police staff who would like to express an interest in potentially returning to help former colleagues if needed can do so by visiting https://bit.ly/39RI1DR.