"I DO everything that a regular police officer does, and am treated exactly the same.”

Bryony Gadsby-Peet loves her role as a special constable with West Yorkshire Police. In the year since she joined the Special Constabulary she has taken part in various aspects of police work, dealing with incidents from traffic offences to burglaries and sudden deaths.

“I have been on high-speed pursuits with another officer and also pursued people on foot,” she says. “There is such a wide range of duties, you never know what you will be doing.”

West Yorkshire Police is running a recruitment drive to increase the number of special constables serving the county to 1,500 by May 2016. At the beginning of the year the force had 698 Special Constables, 121 in Bradford, who each volunteer at least 16 hours a month. With the exception of specialist roles, they have the same powers and responsibilities as full-time police officers but do not receive a salary.

A mortgage administrator with Skipton Building Society, Bryony, 20, decided to join the specials after a work experience placement brought her into contact with the police.

Her enthusiasm was further stoked after she attended the Explorer Programme, designed for young people aged 16-18 to investigate different aspects of policing and at the same time support their communities through volunteering. “I did it to get an insight into police work and it sparked my interest,” she says.

She stresses that it is “not all excitement and adrenaline. There is paperwork too, inputting details of the crime.”

While there is some paperwork, the force is interested in people’s potential rather than paper qualifications. Potential recruits need good life skills and community awareness. Being able to stay calm in a crisis, communicate clearly, resolve disputes sensitively and be honest, fair and impartial, are also among the key requirements, as is a willingness to take on unpopular or routine tasks.

Special constables come from all walks of life. They wear the same uniform and use the same equipment as regular police officers.

“The only way that people can distinguish that you are a special is by the collar number, so to members of the public you look like a regular police officer,” says Bryony, who has been well-supported throughout her time as a volunteer.

Special constables patrol alongside regular officer, but after carrying out a variety of duties such as making an arrest, they are classed as independent and can go out on their own. “At first that was a bit scary,” said Bryony, who is based at Keighley Police Station.“But if you know what you are doing it is fine, and you have your radio if needed.”

She was nervous making her first arrest, but “I soon lost that and now it comes as a matter of course.”

Serving as a special and interacting with members of the public has, she says, boosted her confidence. “It has definitely helped me to develop as a person. I can now walk up and talk to anyone with confidence.”

The history of the Special Constabulary can be traced back to at least the 9th century, when members of the public were given special powers to give unpaid assistance in enforcing the law and keeping the peace. In 1285 the Statute of Winchester was the first piece of legislation that highlighted the importance of the part-time constable, someone from the community who assisted in keeping law and order. An Act of Parliament introduced in 1831 forms the basis of the constitution of today’s Special Constabulary.

Special constables are allocated to work in certain parts of the Bradford district but can also volunteer to work in other areas of West Yorkshire and the UK, supporting events such as last year’s Tour de France. Other such events include music festivals and remembrance parades.

Working alongside members of a team cultivates good working relationships, which can also result in firm friendships. “Some of the officers I work with are now friends too,” she says.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire Mark Burns-Williamson said: “Special constables have a vital role to play within policing and it is essential we continue recruiting valuable members of the community who go on to develop into outstanding officers or who just want to make a difference within the community. The budget I recently approved included an amount set aside ensures there will be proper support and training for those who apply.”

Recruitment details are on websites westyorkshire.police.uk/ bespecial and westyorkshire.police.uk/recruitment/special-constables/could-you-be-special-constable