A volunteer police officer who chased down and arrested a prolific shop thief has lifted the lid on what it means to him to serve his community.
Nottinghamshire Police Special Constable Jonathan Chaloner, who volunteered 580 hours in 2024, regularly patrols Central Avenue in West Bridgford and the surrounding area as part of his beat with the Rushcliffe Neighbourhood Policing Team.
While out on patrol on 8 January, SC Chaloner spotted a persistent shop thief who matched the description of a suspect in relation to thefts from a supermarket at the Compton Acres shopping precinct in West Bridgford.
Adam Hadfield, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to six thefts from the supermarket between 4 December and 8 January, where he stole meat, fish, and chocolate valued at more than £440. Hadfield, aged 38, was jailed for 36 weeks and ordered to pay £220 in compensation when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 9 January.
The force’s Special Constabulary, often known as specials, volunteered a total of 20,538 hours last year. Specials are part-time volunteers who work alongside police officers from across the force, with the added flexibility to fit their responsibilities around a full-time career and private life.
“If you’re going to give back to the community, what better way than by protecting vulnerable people and improving people’s lives with the positive impact you can deliver to them,” said SC Chaloner.
“To me, being a special means giving back to society. It’s about being an upstanding community member who’s willing to go the extra mile to deliver an outstanding service to the communities that we serve.
“It’s a real pleasure going out there, meeting members of the public, interacting with businesses, and just being that friendly officer on the street.”
A Special Constable has the same powers, uniform, and responsibilities as a police officer, but they work voluntarily across the force as part of neighbourhoods, specialist units, events, and response.
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There are currently 88 Special Constabulary officers serving Nottinghamshire Police, with a further nine officers in training who are set to be out on patrol from April 2025.
In total, the officers made 71 arrests in 2024 and completed 3,329 individual duties, which can include attending events, completing training, and carrying out operational duties such as patrolling the streets.
Joining the Special Constabulary was part of realising a lifelong ambition for Special Constable John Roberts.
Having initially passed up joining the police aged 18, SC Roberts worked in the construction industry for more than a decade before deciding on a career change. He returned to university, where he volunteered as a special alongside his studies.
“Being part of the Special Constabulary makes me feel deeply content, and I really enjoy helping people,” SC Roberts said.
Based at Riverside Police Station on a response team, where he patrols Clifton and The Meadows, SC Roberts volunteered 432 hours in 2024.
He added: “I’ve got some quite personal motivations for why I volunteer after family bereavement early in life. I took the view that life is quite short, and you should make the most of it.
“What motivates me is being able to make a difference to our communities by protecting them from harm and delivering an outstanding service.”
The Special Constabulary is part of the force’s Prevention Hub, which is a collaboration between multiple force departments responsible for developing and delivering strategies to prevent crime and disorder throughout the city and county.
Special Superintendent Grant White, head of Nottinghamshire Police’s Special Constabulary, said: “The Special Constabulary plays a vital role in supporting the work of Nottinghamshire Police across the city and county.
“Specials support a wide range of policing roles and are often at the heart of our communities to keep residents safe.
“Their achievements throughout 2024 have not gone unnoticed, and I would like to thank all these skilled individuals who have volunteered countless hours to give back to the public.
“Special Constables come from all walks of life, and we are always on the lookout for committed individuals who are keen to support their local community.
“I would encourage anyone considering an additional career with the Special Constabulary to please visit the Nottinghamshire Police website to find out more.”
