Thank you to our volunteers

We’re taking the opportunity to say thank you to our wonderful volunteers this National Volunteers’ Week.

In Gwent Police we have a number of fantastic volunteers who contributed to the force and have played a vital role in keeping our communities safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Our volunteers include 81 special constables, 29 police support volunteers, 107 cadets and 170 Community Speed Watch members. We also have a number of volunteers who are part of our crime prevention panels, Independent Advisory Group, Community Cohesion Group and chaplains.

‘Specials’, as they are known have the same power, uniform and responsibilities as full-time police officers but volunteer on a part-time basis, managing their role alongside their normal employment. In the past year (April 2020 to April 2021) our special constabulary have given more than 32,000 hours to frontline policing.

Our youngest volunteers, the cadets and Heddlu Bach (Mini Police), have taken part in a number of activities to help our communities including producing letters and pictures to put a smile on the faces of hospital patients and care homes residents.

Chief Constable of Gwent Police Pam Kelly, who started her career in policing nearly 30 years ago as a volunteer with the special constabulary, said: “I cannot thank our wonderful volunteers enough and this week is a great opportunity to recognise their dedication to policing and our communities.

"This past year has been a very difficult period for all of us and I am immensely proud of the part our volunteers have played in helping the people of Gwent. A heartfelt thank you to all those that give so freely their time to help our communities.”

If you would like to find out more about volunteering opportunities within Gwent Police, please visit https://www.gwent.police.uk/police-forces/gwent-police/areas/careers/join-us/