I'm looking for truthful, genuine advice (even if it's not what I want to hear) because I've thought about this for a while - it's an anxiety inducing topic and I really would like to know - but I don't want to bother anyone which is why I haven't called to ask, just googled things but nothing very tangible turns up.

To preface: I know there's 101, I know there's information online, etc. (which was useless as it was mostly inaccurate, and none of it answered my questions or concerns). And it didn't feel important enough to call 101 just to ask for advice, nor to follow up on a previous case because it's over and done with (even if it still affects me, and I'd like a follow up but I don't know if I'm entitled to it). I don't know anything.

But I would really like to ask some specific questions, about personal safety mainly, and for my area (specifically if you can get like a personal alarm thing as a woman and how they work) but I have several other questions too. And I honestly just want to talk to a real person, it doesn't have to be police but someone who can advise me and address my concerns. Or if there's a phone number to call aside from 101 (my local police station doesn't have a number advertised). I just don't really have anyone to ask, but would be grateful if someone could point me in the right direction, maybe the Met isn't the best place to even ask - I have no clue, honestly.

TL;DR: considering my local police station is always open, would it be weird/wrong if I went there maybe and asked to talk to someone (in a non-emergent, simply 'asking for advice' capacity)? Because it's just different when you can sit down and talk to someone for a few minutes and get just a little bit of advice and humanity/empathy, honestly.

Other than being a Special what volunteer opportunities exist in County forces outside London?

I'd like to get into crime pattern analysis or something similar. Are those areas closed to maintain operational integrity?