Police hunt for special volunteers

POLICE chiefs are seeking volunteers who want to become special constables to sign up to a new training course.

Applications will open on January 31 and run until March 31 for candidates wishing to take part in the course, which begins in September.

The force is currently looking to recruit more people to join its team of 150 specials.

Specials are regularly assigned to community beat patrols as well as policing big events. They are trained in arrest techniques, personal safety, taking witness statements, dealing with conflicts and handling traffic.

A police spokesman said: "Being a special constable will not always be easy, but you will find the work challenging, varied and enjoyable. You will be trained to perform routine police patrols, deal effectively with public order situations, enforce traffic legislation and carry out initial investigations at the scene of a crime."