Fall in special constables

LOTHIAN and Borders Police has revealed that the number of special constables on the force has fallen by nearly a fifth.

New figures show that 148 special constables were on duty at the end of last year, compared with 182 for the same time a year before. They carried out 17,425 hours of duty between last April and December.

The force has announced plans to recruit a new batch of special constables, with 30 recruits to start training in April and another 30 in September.

Specials are trained in arrest techniques, taking witness statements, dealing with conflicts and handling traffic.