Police support officer Michelle returns from TA tour of Afghanistan

New Garstang PCSO Michelle Mackay has returned from the Helmand Province of strife-torn Afghanistan.

The 38-year-old police community support officer took a year out from Lancashire police to serve with the Territorial Army.

Former Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School pupil Michelle said: “I went into the TA office to do some enquiries for my work as a PCSO and by the time I came out I had the application form in my hand.

“It was something I had thought about previously, but never done anything about.

“The lady in the recruitment office certainly did her job that day!”

Her TA work had already seen her helping police the 2012 Olympics and joining overseas visits to Germany.

When she volunteered for Afghanistan and served with the Royal Logistics Corp on Operation Herrick, Camp Bastion became her new home.

Michelle said: “I spent six months in Afghanistan from October, 2013, to April, 2014, and training leading up to it. I was away from the police for 12 months.”

Previously Michelle had worked as a PCSO in Lancaster, Heysham and Morecambe after making a career switch from engineering.

Her new patch includes Garstang, Barnacre, 
Oakenclough, St Michael’s, Great Eccleston, Bilsborrow, Myerscough, Scorton, Forton, and Inskip and she looks forward to visiting local schools.