Naomi Campbell is finding out that her community service order for assaulting two police officers will be far tougher than she ever expected.

The 38-year-old model started 200 hours of work at London’s Whitechapel Mission today.

And the Mission has been quick to scotch early reports she has received preferential treatment and a cosy job filing paperwork at the drop-in centre.

'The Whitechapel Mission has been dealing with probationers for 130 years and throughout that time every single one of them has been treated exactly the same,' said an employee who did not wish to be named.

'She will be working with some of the most needy people in the capital. So she is not going to be given an easy ride or treated as a special case.

Model behaviour: Naomi Campbell and boyfriend Vladimir Doronin at the Serpentine Summer Party just hours after beginning a 200 hour community service stint

'She will not be allowed to parade the streets in an orange vest to please photographers like she did in America.

'The centre deals with around 30 probationers a month and is regularly checked on by the probation service, magistrates and even judges. She will not be given an easy time.'

Known on the street as the Cavell Street Mission, the Whitechapel centre stands opposite the Blind Beggar public house, notorious for its connection to 60’s gangsters the Kray twins.

On an average day it deals with more than 150 homeless people who come in search of a cooked breakfast, a shower and some medical facilities after a night sleeping rough.

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The supermodel and her beau with Heather Kerzner and Mario Testino

Like all probationers Miss Campbell will be expected to muck-in with every aspect of providing this care and constantly scrutinized to make sure she performs adequately.

This will involve serving food, sorting second hand clothes for resale and assisting with basic administration of the Mission’s activities.

The notoriously fiery Miss Campbell will also have to abide by a strenuous set of rules dictated by the Probation Service.

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At work: Naomi Campbell during her community service in America

“These include punctual attendance, full co-operation with reasonable instructions, and appropriate behaviour for working in a communal setting,” reveals Alison Prager of London Probation.

The Probation Service will also receive a daily update on Miss Campbell’s progress and hold weekly discussions with the Mission about her performance.

“We also visit on a fortnightly basis to check that the placement is working satisfactorily, that the offender is undertaking tasks that provide benefit for the community and appropriately punish the offender by depriving them of their free time” adds Miss Prager.

Yet none of this appeared to immediately rub off on Miss Campbell after her first day at the Mission.

Later that evening she was all smiles as she enjoyed an exclusive night at the Serpentine Gallery Summer party in London's Hyde Park, mingling with stars such as Joely Richardson, Mario Testino and Damien Hirst alongside her boyfriend, Russian businessman Vladimir Doronin.

Yet the smirk is likely to be wiped off her face when she returns to the Mission next week for her once-a-week visit.

'If they wanted her to have an easy time they could easily have sent her to Chelsea or Kensington,' said the employee.

'Not the East End.'