'I thought I was too old to be a special constable'

Lorna Montecalvo says she saw an advert for special constables on social media but thought she was "too old"

A special constable who thought she was "too old" to volunteer for a force has said the role has given her more than she could have ever expected.

In 2020 Lorna Montecalvo saw an advert on social media for people to apply to become special constables with Northamptonshire Police.

While the job description promised learning new skills and opportunities, Ms Montecalvo thought she was not the right age and almost did not apply.

"I remember the first time I ever went out on response and it was almost like I caught a bug. I came away feeling elated, motivated, fulfilled, needed... I felt alive," she said.

Four years later, at the age of 53, she is working as a special constable one day a week.

Special constables are volunteer part-time police officers who have the same training and powers as salaried officers such as making arrests, searching individuals and premises, enforcing road safety and responding to 999 emergencies.

She said: "It all started just before Covid. My children are at an age now where they kind of don't need me anymore.

"They want me but they don't need me... this feels like I'm being made redundant from the best job in the world."

While volunteering with Northamptonshire Police Ms Montecalvo works on response to 999 calls and manages offenders

With her children now aged between 18 and 23 and the youngest leaving for university, she said her new job has brought her fulfilment.

She said: "By filling my time with policing it's giving me that need, that want still.

"People forget that when someone picks up that phone and dials 999 it's not for a chat, they need you.

"When I go home I feel like I've done my part in helping someone... it's given me more than I ever could have expected."

Alongside working on response, part of her job is also working on the management of sexual and violent offenders.

PC Annabel Knights (right) said the skills learned in the police were like no other job

Before joining the force Ms Montecalvo worked as a sales manager, had children and worked in equestrian psychology following a horse riding incident.

Volunteers coming from a range of backgrounds and the experience is one of the reasons why PC Annabel Knights believes special constables are valuable.

PC Knights works as a specials integrations and development officer and sees volunteers through their training and into work.

She said: "I think the skills you can learn in doing a job like this, there's isn't another job like it.

"The jobs and incidents you will attend are out of this world, they're really quite incredible and you can support people at the worst times in their lives and there's not many other roles where you can do that and properly be there for your community and give back."