Dyfed-Powys Police is celebrating the effect its Specials Constabulary has on policing during National Specials Weekend.

From today (Friday, June 2), to Sunday, June 4, Specials will be out and about throughout Dyfed-Powys showing how they support policing and help make their communities safer just for the love of it.

The force has just under 100 Special Constabulary officers from a variety of backgrounds and professions including a teacher, financial advisor, engineer, a gymnastics coach and a marketing officer for a theatre company.

To celebrate their commitment and contribution to policing, as well as highlighting the breadth of skills and knowledge they bring from their every-day jobs, a short film has been produced highlighting the #SpecialsEffect.

It features officers from Dyfed-Powys’ special constabulary and will be posted on Dyfed-Powys Police’s social media channels today (Friday, June 2) to launch the activity planned for National Specials Weekend.

Superintendent Robyn Mason, the lead for citizens in policing, said: “Our Specials Constabulary makes a massive contribution to helping keep communities safe in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys. National Specials Weekend is an opportunity to thank each and every one of them for giving up their time voluntarily, putting themselves through a pressured application process, intensive training and then in potentially difficult and sometimes dangerous situations. There is no doubt that we all feel the benefit of the #SpecialsEffect in Dyfed-Powys.”

To follow the work of the Dyfed-Powys Police Specials during National Specials Weekend, follow the activity on Twitter @DPPSpecials @DyfedPowys and the Dyfed-Powys Facebook page.

Meet two Specials

Rosie Davies is a teacher at Dyffryn Taf School in Whitland. She lives in St. Davids with her husband and two sons.

She’s been a Special Constable for 18 months and volunteers from Haverfordwest Police Station.

Rosie says: “I always wanted to be in the regular police, that was the plan after school but then life didn’t happen that way. I went to university, trained as a teacher, met my husband, had a family and settled into a job that was family friendly. I do enjoy teaching, but I still had that itch and when I hit 40 I decided it was time to scratch that itch. I thought if I never apply, I will never know if I could do it or not.

“I am loving it. It is more than I thought it would be. I do so many different things and just fit in with the regular police officers. I thought I would just be making up the numbers and attending public events - I did not think I would be involved in firearms searches or dealing with sudden deaths.

“My 17-year-old thinks what I’m doing is great. He finds it really inspirational that I didn’t let go of my dream. I think it has shown him that not all dreams happen straight away, or you may not be successful straight away, but persevere and don’t give up on your dreams. My 16-year-old has also been inspired and wants to join the police when he leaves school.

“My pupils want to talk about it all the time - it’s the go-to diversionary tactic from the actual lesson. they love the idea of it and they see for themselves that I am volunteering my time to do this and as Duke of Edinburgh lead for the school it’s important that I lead by example. I actually put myself forward for the diamond challenge for Duke of Edinburgh when I became a Special and volunteered 300 hours in my first year.”

Karen Lewis is the marketing manager at Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

She is also a Specials Sergeant in the town and volunteers her spare time to help keep the town safe.

She’s been a Special for two-and-a-half years and volunteers around 20 hours a month.

She said: “I saw it as a challenge. I really like all the police documentaries and thought I would really love to do that. There was an opening for volunteer positions so I thought I would give it a go. I did try to be a police officer years ago, but didn’t get it, so thought this was my second chance.

“I like the challenge, the excitement, the drama and of course helping other people -that’s the type of person I am.

“I’ve learnt so much in the role. I get such a variety of training and courses to develop my role - officer safety training, first aid, social media training, professional management courses, advanced driving.

“People are quite shocked when they see me in my police uniform. I definitely get a different reaction from people when I am in uniform - I feel like there is more respect.

“Since being in the role, I’ve had to deal with all kinds of incidents, including delivering a death message to a family which was probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do. I’ve attended road traffic collisions, domestics, sudden deaths.

“I’ve made some good friends in Specials and regular officers.

“The first time I went out on patrol I loved it. I do feel different when I put my uniform on.”

Facts and figures

The number of hours Specials worked in the last year: Last financial year, 2016/17: 23,605.

Statistics:

• Arrests: 73

• Drug seizures: 75

• Breathalyser tests: 135 (7 positive)

• Stop searches, vehicles, strip searches etc.: 184

• Vehicle seizures: 20

• Missing person enquiries: 276

• RTCs: 120

• Fixed Penalty Notices or Traffic Offence Reports (FPN/TOR): 60