To mark National Volunteers Week, Cumbria police is highlighting the contributions made by people who give their time to the constabulary.
The force has several volunteer roles, including police support volunteers, special constables, cadets and cadet leaders.
Over the past year, a team of 37 special constables volunteered 11,191 hours with 4000 duties assisting both response and rural officers, and 260 duties policing some of the county’s major events and operations.
The hours volunteered equate to almost six full-time officers throughout the year.
The force is also supported by 65 police support volunteers in cyber, rural, road safety and quality assurance departments. It also works closely with many young people across the county as part of its cadet programme, supported by 24 volunteer cadet leaders.
Inspector Nick Oliver said: “It’s so important to acknowledge the incredible work of our volunteers who contribute their spare time to support Cumbria police.
“This week provides us with an excellent opportunity to showcase their work, which often goes unseen.
“Volunteers are an essential part of the force, and I would like to say thank you to all of our volunteers for their hard work and dedication over the past year, it really does make a difference.”
Special Sergeant Steve Wright said: “I joined the Special Constabulary with the vision to join full-time, however, my full-time career took me on a different path and being a special constable allows me to have a second career, which I find really rewarding.
“You see people from all walks of life, usually we meet people at the lowest and being able to help them, even in a small way, makes me feel like I am making a difference.
“I am an authorised blue light driver and work mainly independently or tutoring young in-service special constables, we attend all manner of calls. I am treated with the same respect as a full-time officer and expected to undertake the same tasks.”
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen said: “I want to thank all police volunteers for their dedication to their roles within policing.
“The work of volunteers is invaluable and an integral part of our services. Simply put, volunteers add incredible value and worth to the policing of our county.
“As local residents, they know their patch better than anyone and they are trusted within their communities. Volunteers really do help keep our towns and villages safe.
“This also continues a tradition going back to the creation of the modern police service, one of policing by consent. It recognises that, as Sir Robert Peel stated in 1836 – the police are the public and the public are the police.”
