CHOOSE a job you love and you never work a day.

A phrase many will have heard in their adult life but no such extension of the expression can be found for those whose passion sees them volunteer hours upon hours to an organisation, charity or cause.

While no voluntary role is easily compared to that of police special constables, the pride and fulfilment such a position brings is hard to quantify.

Special Inspector Stevie Tiernan has found time to dedicate thousands of hours to Dorset Police Special Constabulary since joining in January 2013.

“At the time my day job was in the control room as a dispatcher,” she said. “I have always volunteered and I wanted to carry on volunteering.

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“I wanted to see it from the other side as well so I could get the whole picture of what happens and then I just carried on. It is probably the most unique volunteering position you can have.

“How many volunteer positions do you get to go out and interact with your community as a police officer, drive police cars, deal with crimes, deal with people – I don’t think anything else is like that and it is amazing.”

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The Daily Echo joined Stevie on a morning patrol in and around Poole to see just how the work of the special constabulary fits in with the wider Dorset Police operation.

To members of the public Stevie, whose day job sees her work as a Dorset Police staff investigator, looks like a police constable and there is a good reason for this.

“We have the same powers,” said Stevie. “A lot of the public confuse us with PCSOs (police community support officers).

“PCSOs are civilians with certain powers and they do a cracking job but they are the bridge between the community and the police, where as when we are on duty we are police officers.

“We wear the same kit, we look the same, we turn up for a job and to the public there is no difference from a police constable. We do the same job.”

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It proves to be a pretty quiet Thursday morning on the streets of Poole and outskirts of Bournemouth.

Stevie showed the discretion officers often employ when dealing with a recovery truck parked on zig zag lines on the A347 Wimborne Road with words of advice given, if not gratefully received, by the motorist.

The time in the marked police car saw us go past Canford Heath, which was still showing the scars of a huge fire last month. The police response to the incident with a large cordon in place included special constables alongside regular officers.

Stevie, who is based out of the Poole Police Station special constabulary team, said: “We are certainly not there to plug the gaps – that is not what the special constabulary is there for.

“We are not there to replace regular police officers. We are there to supplement and support, which is great and certainly at Poole we are welcomed with open arms.”

Dorset Police’s Special Constabulary is currently recruiting, with an intention to bring in 40 new special constables a year across two campaigns.

There are currently have 115 people in the special constabulary, across the ranks of constable, sergeant, inspector, superintendent, deputy and chief officer.

Last year, Dorset Police special constables performed more 26,000 hours on duty.

Some of the roles of current special constables outside of policing include single parents, company directors, social workers, nurses, fire service staff, council staff, IT experts, retail area managers, mental health support workers and driving instructors.

Special constables are sworn and warranted officers, with training in law, conflict resolution, diplomacy and how to build confidence. It is recommended that they volunteer for 16 hours a month.

Stevie’s day job means she is trained to a level that she can take statements from victims, conduct interviews and do all the regular activities a police constable does.

But she said she has no intention of changing from a voluntary officer role.

“I never wanted to be a police officer and I still don’t want to be a police officer,” said Stevie.

“I have never applied, I have never had the inkling to apply. A lot of people join as a special constable to get the experience before seeing if they want to join as a full-time police officer.

“I am just happy finding time to come and to do it.”

She added: “I have always said free time here, free time there, but that isn’t right. It is actually we find time and we make time.

“I don’t get free time because I am always doing something. There is always something I have to do in my day job or as a mum or as a volunteer elsewhere – there is always something that I have to be getting on with.

“I have to physically find time and make time to come on duty but when you are doing something that is so worthwhile you find the time or make the time and it is enjoyable.”

To find out more about the special constabulary’s recruitment, which includes virtual engagement events on May 19 and June 11, visit recruitment-dcp-dp.org.