Specials help out on beat

THE number of hours worked by special constables with Lothian and Borders Police has fallen, new figures have shown.

The 174 special constables with the force worked for 6455 hours between April and June, compared with 8245 for the same period last year when their number stood at 181.

Police chiefs have mounted a recruitment drive for specials, with applications closing on October 31. Successful volunteers looking to enlist will be sent on a training programme next April before starting their duties, which include traffic control and policing big events.