National Volunteers Week: Meet the Accrington man who volunteers for Lancashire Police

One Accrington man who has been praised for his volunteer work by Lancashire Police is Gaz Munroe.

By day, you might have met Gaz on your doorstep as he has been working as a postman for the last five years.

(Photo: Gaz Monroe/Lancashire Police)

However, by night he swaps his Royal Mail letter bag for a police officer’s uniform and heads out on the streets to protect the public and stop rule breakers.

Lancashire Police acknowledged Gaz's contributions to the force in a social media post that racked up more than 480 likes and 38 shares. 

They wrote: "Gaz is one of our 166 special constables who volunteer their time every week to support the neighbourhood teams in their communities.

"He’s volunteered his time in East Lancashire for the past two years and even manages to use the skills acquired through police training when donning his red jacket!"

The 29-year-old said: “Working with the police is something that I have been passionate about ever since I was little.”

He has been volunteering with the force since 2019- and admired the flexibility of hours that the volunteer position allows him to have.

The application process is far from simple.

There are numerous stages to get in and is a 12-18 month process involving interviews, medical and fitness tests.

Gaz said: “It has allowed me to give back to my community and make it a better place.

“There’s been months throughout Covid where I have worked more than 100 hours a month for the police.

“There have been times where I have been posting in the day, come home and get changed, then go straight back out for the police.”

However, volunteering hasn't been without its low points.

Gaz explained that his wife and their son moved out of the family home for a while in order to protect herself and her son from the coronavirus.

Mr Munroe explained: “I was dealing with a lot of people and going to some jobs that were a little risky.

"They moved out for a total of three months to ensure they were protected.”

Gaz works as a postie and as a police volunteer

During his time as a police volunteer, Gaz has been called out on a variety of jobs.

Before Covid, he was keeping the peace at football matches, and gigs.

Since lockdown, Gaz has been attending house parties, breaking up gatherings and addressing anti-social behaviour issues.

He recently assisted with a domestic assault whilst on his delivery round and has intercepted drugs packages through the postal network, something he says he may not have  spotted if he wasn’t a special constable in his spare time.

He said: “I love going home knowing I’ve done something good that day and I actually get that feeling whichever uniform I’m wearing.

“In the last few weeks I have been heading into pubs and making sure the rules have been followed there.

“I’ve been trying to educate people about Covid and the risks without enforcing it.”

Gaz has also been present at murder scenes and other dangerous scenarios.

He was also part of a £4.5 million drug bust in Oswaldtwistle back in 2020- which is thought to be one of the biggest drug busts to have taken place in Lancashire to date.

Gaz is eager to continue his policing career and progress from a volunteer.

He said: “Right now, I have submitted an application to be a police community support officer- which will allow to get out in the community and resolve any local issues without having the powers of arrest”

He wants to thank both The Royal Mail and Lancashire Constabulary for the help, support and good they do in the county.