Meet the student who has volunteered more than 1,000 hours as a constable

Meet Special Constable Marlow Dupont – he’s volunteered more than 1,000 hours of his time policing the streets of Nottinghamshire to keep members of the public safe.

Special Constabulary officers, often known as specials, are part-time volunteers who work alongside police officers from across the force.

“I found it more rewarding than I thought it was going to be helping the community and I do feel like I make a real difference with the individual people that I speak to; it’s really satisfying,” Marlow said.

After clocking up 1,130 hours in 2024, Marlow has already volunteered more than 280 hours so far in 2025.

He balances these staggering milestones alongside his studies at the University of Nottingham but spends any spare time keeping communities safe from harm after first volunteering in July 2023.

Marlow added: “It’s definitely one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, but it’s very rewarding.”

Specials can work a variety of roles as part of response, operations, neighbourhoods, events, specialist units, and on the beat in our communities – increasing the force’s presence on the street.

Marlow first began his career in neighbourhoods, but now spends his afternoons, evenings, and weekends on response in Radford where he patrols large swathes of the city centre to respond to urgent calls for assistance ranging from road traffic collisions to serious assaults.

On August 4 last year, Special Constable Dupont was called to reports that Antoniu Botusan had assaulted a paramedic in Ford Street North, Nottingham.

The 36-year-old, who was drunk and clutching a bottle of vodka, became aggressive after being assessed by paramedics.

Botusan then punched one of the paramedics in the arm and kicked him in the groin, which was captured on body-worn video.

When he was arrested by SC Dupont, Botusan began spitting at the emergency services workers and made threats towards officers.

Botusan, of Bramble Close, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and being drunk and disorderly in a public place when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on November 26, 2024.

He was ordered to pay £85 in costs, a £114 fine, £100 in compensation, and required to complete a 12-month community order of 150 hours of unpaid work.

Marlow added: “It gives you a great sense of responsibility. Although we’re volunteers, we have the same powers and responsibilities as other officers.

“Working on response captures a little bit of everything, you get to do all sorts of different things in one – there’s nothing else like it.”

An additional career with the Special Constabulary often means that officers will work full-time careers and volunteer their spare time in the evenings and weekends for the force, with the added flexibility to fit responsibilities around work and private life commitments.

Specials come from all walks of life – from university students, office workers, and public sector staff, to those who have retired and enjoy giving back to their community.

A Special Constable has the same powers, uniform, and responsibilities as a police officer, but they work voluntarily.

No two days are the same for the Special Constabulary, just like police officers, they will deal with incidents that most will never encounter, and take part in frontline police work, all while serving and protecting their community.

Marlow added: “The training is a big commitment, but when you dedicate yourself to it it’s very rewarding because if you know all your powers and policy and you’re confident in what you’re doing then there’s a lot of options available for you to help people.”

Special Superintendent Grant White, head of Nottinghamshire Police’s Special Constabulary, said: “Our Special Constabulary play a vital role in supporting the work of Nottinghamshire Police across the city and county.

“Specials are often at the heart of our communities to keep residents safe and come from all walks of life.

“They are required to volunteer a minimum of 16 hours per month, but frequently go above and beyond this, as Special Constable Dupont has demonstrated through his exceptional commitment and work ethic.

“This dedicated work is key to engaging with all communities across Nottinghamshire and we would always welcome applications from passionate individuals who are considering an additional career with us.”