COMMUNITIES across Dorset are safer places thanks to the commitment of a devoted band of unpaid volunteers.

Working in a variety of roles, including with the Special Constabulary, volunteers committed over 31,000 hours of their time, which is the equivalent of 4,000 shifts a year or 72 a week.

There are currently 85 Special Constables and 140 police volunteers in Dorset.

Volunteers also support 35 other roles across the Force – such as vehicles cleaner, CCTV operator, neighbourhood engagement and chaplain. Many volunteer in more than one role.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Lyne said: "Volunteers commit to hundreds of hours a week working within communities across Dorset.

"Many are highly visible roles that the public are used to seeing, such as Special Constables, but there are others working behind the scenes such as photographers, CCTV operators, vehicle cleaners, chaplains, Horsewatch and mounted volunteers.

"Each and every volunteer gives up their time to help make Dorset a safe county for everyone and to give something back to our communities.

ACC Steve Lyne.

"In your local community there will be volunteers committed to keeping you safe and they are passionate about the work they do.

"As we celebrate National Volunteers' Week, I would like to say a huge thank you to those people who give up their valuable time to volunteer for Dorset Police. They are an integral part of our organisation, and we are extremely lucky to have them."

A Special Constable has the same powers as a regular paid police officer and spends a minimum of 16 hours per month on duty. They are very much on the front line in keeping people safe.

But most volunteers are in the background utilising their skills to strengthen communities, solve problems and improve the lives of others.

Two key pieces of work where volunteers have made a significant difference are in supporting Bournemouth's Safe Bus and Operation Amplify where Specials have engineered and staffed work to proactively target ASB hotpots in the north and east of Dorset.

Case Study

Inspector Special Emma Sanders is one of the two highest ranking female officers in Dorset Special Constabulary.

Emma joined Dorset Specials in 2020 having always wanting to join the police and deciding that joining as a Special meant she could stay in a day job that she enjoyed and have the flexibility of policing around family life and work.

"I work for HMRC and as a VAT Compliance Officer was used to dealing with people in often challenging situations. I realised that many of the skills were transferable between the roles, and that the skills of each role would enhance the other," she said.

"I have worked response shifts, events and neighbourhood policing and embraced opportunities for development within my role.

"I have represented the force on an Action Learning Set for female leaders which has given me confidence and allowed me to share my skills and experience with partner agencies."

Special Emma Sanders with her team.

In February 2023 Emma was promoted to Special Inspector and now manages the eastern section which is a team of constables and a sergeant.

"I am proud to have supported initiatives under Operation Amplify where Specials have engineered and worked to proactively target antisocial behaviour hotpots in the north and east of Dorset," she said.

"It means there are extra officers on the streets, being highly visible and supporting our regular colleagues."

Emma is convinced the skills she is developing as a Special are helping her in her day job.

"I have recently been promoted at HMRC and have no doubt that the confidence and competences I have gathered through my police work have helped me achieve this," she added.

You can find out more about Dorset Specials on Instagram, Facebook and X – search for @DorsetSpecials.

Case study

Claudio Bollani's day job sees him helping organise Dorset Police's roster of over 200 volunteers and, in doing so, recognised opportunities where he could further develop his own skills by becoming a volunteer himself.

Claudio Bollani.

"I have been a Safe Bus volunteer for six years," he said.

"The work involves talking to people who are vulnerable through drink or mental health, and occasionally to homeless people who come over and say hello.

"It has been an eye-opening experience for me as Bournemouth at nighttime is very different to Bournemouth during the day."

All Safe Bus volunteers are given basic first aid training to help them deal with minor incidents and they are connected to the police control centre should they come across an incident which requires an emergency response.

"The police's investment in training for volunteers is really developing," said Claudio.

"As well as first aid training we are being shown how to help support victims, how to recognise those who are may be suffering abuse or a mental health episode and how to identify those who are under the influence of drink or drugs.

"I spend my days helping administer the volunteer programme so by doing this it has given me an understanding of what volunteers go through and what they need to be effective. Talking to people in an environment where they might behave very differently to how they behave during the day really helps develop negotiating skills too."

Find out more about police volunteering in Dorset, including current vacancies, here>

You can find more about joining Dorset's Special Constabulary here>