A Special Constable is a “credit” to the Met police as he is awarded for 49 years of voluntary service.

Special Constable Robert Harrild, 68, was recently presented with a fourth bar to his long service medal by Assistant Commissioner Helen King for dedicating around 10,000 hours of service to Harrow MPS.

During his service to the police force, Mr Harrild also dedicated his time for the Volunteer Emergency Service, and delivered bottles of blood by motorbike from Edgware Blood Bank to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.

Ms King of Territorial Policing, said: "Rob has been awarded his fourth bar to the long service medal, joining a small group of colleagues throughout the country.

“His dedication, professionalism and positive attitude throughout his career is a testament to his exemplary service. He is a credit to Harrow Borough."

Over the last 49 years, Mr Harrild’s dedication has been clear, as after undergoing a triple heart bypass in June 2010, he was back on duty in August that year.

His career in the Metropolitan Special Constabulary on 27 January 1967, and he was enrolled at New Scotland Yard.

Mr Harrild worked as a Special Constable, a position where volunteers work with police officers to bring skills and experiences from a day job to help them in the force.

Volunteering as a special constable has meant that Mr Harrild has seen active service during the Grosvenor Square anti-war demonstration riots in 1968, and has also represented the MSC in small bore rifle competitions.

This is not the first award that he has achieved, as in both 2001 and 2002, the Harrow Borough Award was awarded to him for his outstanding contribution to the community in the borough of Harrow.

In 2010, Mr Harrild was also presented with the Harrow Borough Commander's Award for his long service as a committed officer of the MSC for Harrow.

He also supported colleagues during the 2012 Olympic Games held in London and at one point, he was chosen to guard the Olympic Flame.

His 49 years of service was marked in January this year and earlier this month, the MPS Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, thanked him in person for serving the people of Harrow and London.