Hertfordshire Constabulary has welcomed five new Special Constables.
Specials are volunteer police officers. They come from all walks of life and volunteer their spare time for a minimum of 16 hours a month.
The newest cohort were formally attested at a ceremony which took place at police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City last month.
The five recruits, which include a property project manager and an associate director, took the police oath in front of Chief Constable Charlie Hall, Justice of Peace Rob Sassoon, Chief Superintendent Jon Simpson and Special Superintendent Mike Allardyce.
They were also joined by four local dignitaries - Stevenage Mayor Myla Arceno, Hertsmere councillor Chris Myers, the Mayor of Hertsmere, North Herts councillor Daniel Allen, and Welwyn Hatfield Mayor councillor Pankit Shah.
Chief Constable Charlie Hall said: “It was my pleasure to welcome our latest cohort of Special Constables and I wish them all the very best as they embark on an extremely rewarding volunteering role.
"Our Special Constabulary plays a vital part in keeping our communities safe and being a Special Constable is a role like no other. I thank them for their time and dedication to support our county."
Representatives from Howdens, who supported Gareth, a property project manager, and Ocado, who supported Joshua, a delivery driver, through the programme were also in attendance on Thursday, August 24.
Gareth said: “When COVID hit and we were in lockdown, I realised I could be doing something other than sitting at home.
"I started to investigate the Special Constabulary and once I discovered that age wasn’t a barrier, I set myself a challenge to get fit and apply.
"The training involved me giving up most weekends and one day a week, on top of my normal job, but I have really enjoyed my journey so far.
"I’ve met fantastic people along the way, and I can’t wait to get out there and look forward to making a difference to our communities.”
The new Special Constables will be based across the county, with the five individuals stationed at Hertsmere, North Herts, Stevenage, St Albans and Welwyn Hatfield.
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David Lloyd, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, said: “Congratulations to these new Special Constables who volunteer in their free time to make Hertfordshire a safer place for everyone.
"They are a vital part of Hertfordshire Constabulary, and on behalf of the public I would like to thank them for their service.
"They bring new skills and experience to policing, while gaining an immense sense of satisfaction for helping those in need in our communities.”
Highly trained, with full policing powers including the power to arrest, Specials play an essential role in preventing, reducing and tackling crime, according to the Herts force.
Chief Constable Charlie Hall added: “Applications to join our Special Constabulary are open all year round and I encourage anybody who is looking for a rewarding volunteering role to consider applying.
“If you’re concerned about fitting the role in with your day job, you may be interested in our Employer Supported Policing (ESP) scheme.
"ESP gives flexibility for Special Constables to carry out their volunteering duties and the constabulary will work with your employer to find a way that works.
"For example, some employers decide to give the Special unpaid leave to undertake their duties whilst others are able to offer paid leave. It is definitely worth exploring if you are thinking about joining our Special Constabulary."
To find out more visit hertspolicespecials.co.uk.
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