They are the police officers who swoop in at night or for big events and then come morning are back at their 'day job' - without any extra pay.
That is all about to change, however, for some Special Constables with Devon and Cornwall Police, as they become part of a groundbreaking pilot project.
Special Constables who agree to complete a set number of shifts are being financially compensated with an allowance for the first time, as the force strengthens its response to policing the coronavirus pandemic.
Until earlier this year Specials Constables – volunteer officers with full police powers – could only apply for expenses incurred while carrying out their duties.
Now Devon and Cornwall Police, backed by its Commissioner Alison Hernandez, has launched an extended pilot project to see the force through the depths of winter.
Those who perform eight shifts lasting eight hours at a time in December and January will be eligible to apply for the allowance of £750.
Special Constables remain classified as volunteers under the scheme, but both Commissioner Hernandez and the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall, Shaun Sawyer, have said they would favour a change in legislation that would enable police forces to use the Special Constabulary as a paid reserve, in the same way the Army Reserve flexes, to provide additional resource at times of need.
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Devon and Cornwall Police receives a significant spike in calls for service during the summer tourist season when it polices significantly more people than in winter months. The force sees an 11 per cent rise in crime in the months between April and September, a 14 per cent rise in incidents and an 18 per cent increase in missing people.
Ms Hernandez said: "We have a unique set of challenges in Devon and Cornwall, with a large remote force area which sees its population swell in the summer months.
“Volunteers are a huge asset to our communities in helping us maintain Devon and Cornwall as one of the safest force areas in the country.
"This is about recognising some of the barriers to service that the Special Constabulary face and perhaps making it more attractive to those who have considered joining but who may not be in a financial position to be able to give that time for no reward.
“In the South West reserved firefighters and reserve soldiers are ready to step up in a time of need and provide a skilled and flexible workforce. That is what I would like to help create in policing to help us deal with a surge in summer demand.”
Shaun Sawyer, chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police said the role of the 'Specials' was "pivotal to policing".
"There is a principle as an employer that volunteering is a balance between respecting that time, which is freely given, and the expectations and duties of their role," he said.
“In respect of the Special Constabulary, they are unique in having all of the powers of sworn full-time officers and the responsibilities that go with it, whilst also providing their services as volunteers.
“I therefore believe this is the moment to explore the concept of enhanced allowance to Special Constables when we ask them to perform set shifts, prescribed hours and for a focused operational purpose.
"The allowance recognises the essential work that Specials undertake during this pandemic and acknowledges their wider contribution to policing."
Devon and Cornwall Police has 134 Special Constables who are eligible for the initial allowance, which will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis.
Special Constable Simon Richardson of Devon and Cornwall Police
Among them is Special Constable Simon Richardson, who has been manning ‘Covid cars’ responding to complaints about breaches or coronavirus legislation.
In a Special Constabulary career spanning 16 years he says helping people who are suffering from mental health unwellness is a recurring theme.
SC Richardson is a ‘career special’ who does not plan to join the regular force.
“So much of our work revolves around helping people with mental health issues who are feeling suicidal and are unable to get help from the right agencies at the time when they need them most,” he said.
“Often it will be a 999 to the police to deal with the “here and now” situation and that can take a lot of resources finding them.
“Most recently my crew mate and I found someone who had drunk petrol, doused their car in petrol and was about to light matches when we arrived to give her that assistance.
“We’ve pulled people off bridges when we’ve seen them climb over.
“We’ve found people taking shelter under a blanket that felt they couldn’t go home because they had lost their job and didn’t know how to tell their families.
“Most recently myself and two other colleagues pulled a female out of a river.
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“For us 'career specials' who have no intention of joining the police because we couldn’t afford the pay cut, we still treat our policing as a second job. After 16 years I still have much more to give and do yet."
The first shifts under the scheme were completed on December 10.
The project will be one of those funded by £60 million paid by the Home Office to police forces to help them meet the cost of policing coronavirus regulations.
The Devon and Cornwall pilot project follows a West Midlands Police scheme which gave a one-off allowance to each Special Constable for every 16 hours they worked over and above their normal shifts to help with the response to Covid-19.
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