Essex Police thank volunteers for contributing over 200,000 hours in the past year.
Special Constables and other volunteers contributed over 17,000 hours just last month.
Essex Police say they are especially thankful to their volunteers, who have contributed just over 200,000 hours of voluntary policing in the last 12 months.
PC Jonathan McDonald works for Essex Constabulary, but also volunteers as the lead for the Drill Instructor Team:
"We don't do it for any recognition or pat on the back, but when we do have even a day or a week that celebrates the success of all volunteers, not just in policing, it kind of makes us feel worthwhile.
"I'm a massive advocate for Special Constables. They give us that support which allows us to provide a better service to the community and I couldn't speak highly enough of them.
"Across the last year, they gave up 207,000 hours of service, and that's just the members of the Special Constabulary. Without them, it could have put extra strain on regular colleagues."
He is also in charge of a 6-person volunteer team:
"I don't know of any volunteer who does it for anything other than the pride and the knowledge in their head that they've done something to make a difference, however small.
"We have people that are willing to give up their free time to provide that extra bit of service and it's really important we share their success."
Volunteers’ Week takes place between 1 and 7 June to celebrate volunteers across the country, who have helped provide local services through challenging times.
Essex Police have the largest number of volunteers outside of London – including Special Constables and Police Cadets – who contributed over 17,000 hours last month.
Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan from Essex Police says: “We are so fortunate to have hundreds of amazing people volunteering in a wide variety of roles across our force.
“We have the second largest Special Constabulary in the country, who, during lockdown between March and June last year volunteered 54,000 operational hours, providing visible policing and reassurance to our communities during unprecedented times.
“Whatever their role, the additional skills and experiences our volunteers bring to Essex Police play a vital part in protecting and serving our county and they do all of this in their spare time.
“The past year or so has been really challenging for everyone but many of our volunteers have continued to donate their spare time to make a difference in their communities, although some, understandably, stepped back or, indeed, volunteered in a different role to help our county’s response to the pandemic.
“And so I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who gives up their spare time to help us to help people, keep you safe and catch criminals. To our Active Citizens, Police Support Volunteers, Special Constables, Volunteer Police Cadets and their leaders, thank you for your time, commitment and passion.
“Thank you for what you do to make Essex a safer place to be.”