Meet the 999 workers on Christmas Day shift in Yorkshire

Andy Richardson, force incident manager at North Yorkshire Police, has worked nearly every Christmas Day over his three decades in the force – and today will be his last before he retires.

“I think it’s really important, not just over Christmas, but any time of the year, to support those people who ring up and want help,” says the 51-year-old.

“A standout memory for me is working for the 2015 floods on Boxing Day, that was a real challenge for us.”

On Christmas Day nine years ago, severe floods hit West and North Yorkshire – leading to evacuations and property damage.

For his colleague, Grace Foster, today will be her first Christmas working in the force’s control room as a call handler.

“I’ve only been in this role for a few months and this will be my first Christmas on shift,” says Grace, 31.

“I’m excited about working Christmas, I’ve been told it will be fairly busy. There is quite a demand for the police over the Christmas period.

“My family have all been in the emergency services or worked shifts – my dad was a firefighter and my mum was a nurse. So, growing up, Christmas Day wasn’t on Christmas Day a lot of the time.

“I’ve heard their stories about things they have dealt with and incidents they attended and it’s nice for me to finally do my bit and give back to the community, especially over Christmas.

“It just feels that little bit extra – you’re not just giving back, but you are giving back over a period of time that is difficult for quite a lot of people.

“Just being that voice at the end of the phone will leave me with warmth in my heart over Christmas, knowing that I’ve made that slight difference.”