West Midlands Police have welcomed around 2,000 officers from across the UK to help support policing and security operation for the Commonwealth Games.

And none have travelled further than the two latest arrivals, PCs Adam Potter and Mat Du Port, who arrived in the West Midlands yesterday from the Channel Islands.

They’ll be patrolling on two wheels near the Smithfields beach volley ball arena in Digbeth during the Games but also mingling with the crowds to keep spectators safe and offer reassurance.

But as Guernsey Police don’t have the same powers of PCs on the mainland their first assignment was a dash to the law courts in Birmingham to be sworn in as West Midlands Police Special Constables.

Adam, 33, said it’s been a whirlwind few days but he can’t wait to be part of the sporting spectacle that is Birmingham 2022. He added:

“We caught a ferry from St Peter Port on Monday to the mainland, stayed the night in Poole and travelled up to Birmingham on Tuesday to take our oath.

“We both wanted to play our part in what is a once in a lifetime opportunity to police such a massive event and be part of the occasion.

“We’re hosting the Islands Games in Guernsey next year which is hugely exciting but clearly we’ll never get the chance to be involved in something on the scale of Birmingham 2022.

“Hopefully we’ll get some downtime to also explore the area and take in some of the city.”

Adam has been a traffic officer for two years after spending eight years in response policing, while Mat has been an officer in Guernsey for 17 years.

Guernsey Police has around 150 officers in total and their jurisdiction also covers the smaller neighbouring islands of Alderney, Herm and Sark.