PC Michelle Jahanjiri hopes Christmas Day will be merry

Dec 24 2009 by Sophie Doughty, The Journal

IT is the one day of the year when most families put all other differences aside to spend Christmas Day with their loved ones.

But for thousands of people across the North East, December 25 is just another working day.

Working over Christmas has become a way of life for PC Michelle Jahanjiri.

But the Newcastle Neighbourhood Beat Manager is hoping for a quiet shift this Christmas Day, as that will mean the people of Newcastle are having a safe and happy Christmas.

Michelle, 30, is working 7am until 3pm on December 25.

“It is strange going into work when you know everyone else is at home,” she said. “But I have been doing it so long now I am used to it.

“Christmas Day is usually quite quiet in the city centre because there are no shops open. But you have still got to deal with incidents as they come in, and Christmas Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year so there are usually jobs left over from the night before.

“The police have to be there 24/7 and I have known some years when Christmas Day has been just as busy as any other day. One year I had domestics and road traffic collisions to deal with. And once you are called out you forget it’s Christmas and it is exactly the same as any other day.”