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RAF policeman on beat in Afghanistan
Henlow-based airman plays vital role in tackling crime
An airman based at RAF Henlow has been on the beat in Afghanistan to fight crime and the Taliban with the Royal Air Force Police.
Corporal Matt Akers, 25, is an RAF policeman serving in the Special
Investigations Branch at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand Province.
Bastion, which is the largest British base built since the Second World
War, is one of the busiest airfields in the world.
Cpl Akers serves with the RAF's tactical police wing at Henlow.
He said: "I used to be a special constable in the British Transport Police. I wanted a new challenge, and the RAF police seemed to offer
everything I was looking for."
Although he was deployed to support general plice operations around the giant desert garrison, he was marked out as being of exceptional ability and moved into the tough world of forensic investigation.
He added: "It's a really, really challenging job. If one of our soldiers
is killed in action, I could be called to the scene to collect evidence
and set up an investigation.
"It can be very distressing, but I know that my work helps the coroner
back in the UK to keep families completely informed about his investigation.
"We also help by escorting the fallen back to the UK. The first time I did that was very tough and upsetting, but when the hearse was on its
way from RAF Brize Norton and I saw hundreds of well-wishers lining the route, I felt incredibly proud of my role."
He returned to England on June 27.
For the full report see the July 3 edition of the Biggleswade Chronicle.
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Weather for Biggleswade
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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