For Jason Carmichael becoming a Special Constable is fulfilling a lifelong dream of joining the police.

At the age of 45, the construction company owner is realising his ambition and training to become a volunteer officer with Dyfed-Powys Police.

Special constables come from all walks of life, and have the same powers as regular officers. The only difference is that the time they give to the force is voluntary.

Jason, from Cross Hands has completed application forms, interviews and fitness tests and is now just weeks away from his attestation to become a warranted officer, when he will not only be given full police powers, but the pride of knowing he never gave up.

“I have always wanted to be a police officer since I was a little boy and I remember going to an open day in Bridgend when I was 16,” he said.

“This huge officer was there looking down on me – you had to be six foot tall to join back then – and he told me to come back when I was 23 and had a bit more experience.

“By the time I was 23 I became an integral part of the family business, so I never went back to join the police.”

It was a post advertising Specials recruitment on the Dyfed-Powys Facebook page that set the ball rolling, as Jason decided to apply.

Before becoming a Special, potential officers must take part in eight weekends of training which are a mixture of classroom-based learning and physical training.

“I was 45 and wondered if I was too old,” he said.

“I read about what you needed to do to apply, and all the requirements of training and the role itself, then worked at getting myself back to fitness. I discovered there is no upper age limit to the role.”

Specials must volunteer a minimum of 16 hours a month, and as long as they complete a log book following their attestation, they become independent after 12 months.

“Everybody has been so positive about it,” Mr Carmichael said.

“I thought you had to commit a lot more time than you do.

“When I put my uniform on it felt normal.

“In my mind, because I always wanted to be an officer I put it on and thought ‘well now I am’.”