Can you give up 16 hours a month to help safeguard your community?

Dyfed Powys Police is looking for people who have a special quality and are willing to volunteer their time to join the force as Special Constables in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Powys.

“We know that the best way to support a community and help resolve the issues that matter is by getting involved, understanding the people and the area, almost becoming one of the residents,” said Chief Constable Simon Prince. “We want to take this a step further, and we want local residents to help us by volunteering as a Special Constable.

“Traditionally, being a Special Constable has been seen as a path to becoming a regular officer or police community support officer. I still want that to happen, but I really want people from our rural villages and towns to step forward and offer to help us police their communities.”

Changes have been made to the training programme to make it more flexible and to make training more accessible to people wishing to join as a Special Constable. The training will include a series of formal learning days at the police headquarters and stations, as well as online training.

Changes have also been made to the way the force recruits volunteers to be more focused. It now centres on particular communities where they need more Special Constables, and when people join, they will know where they will be based.

Chief Constable Simon Prince added: “The Special Constabulary provide a valuable resource to policing in Dyfed Powys, they are part of our police family and take part in operations and day to day patrol. Special Constables take part in front-line police work spending most of their time on patrol in communities, gathering information in crime hotspots or taking part in crime-prevention initiatives. This could mean anything from keeping town centres safe at night to conducting house-to-house enquiries or helping prevent vulnerable members of the community from becoming victims of crime.”

Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon said: “The force’s volunteer officers offer extra visibility for policing, are vital links between regular officers and the community and can achieve a great sense of fulfilment. I urge all those interested in such a rewarding role to find out more.”

For more information on becoming a Special Constable with Dyfed Powys Police visit www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/join-the-police/special-constables