Specials in recruits bid (source Lincolnshire Echo)

by Dan Sharp
dan.sharp@lincolnshireecho.co.uk <mailto:dan.sharp@lincolnshireecho.co.uk>

For six consecutive years the number of special constables in Lincolnshire has fallen and today the force has made an urgent appeal for fresh recruits.
There were 322 special constables in 1995, compared to just 160 this year.

Specials wear police uniform on duty and have the same powers as regular officers.
After initial training, their duties include assisting officers on patrols and crime prevention work. They also deal with difficult situations such as fights and burglaries.
There are currently 60 specials working in Lincoln.
Lincolnshire Police spokesman Sergeant Barry Davis said: "There are several reasons why specials have left recently. In many cases, their day jobs have begun to expect more of them so they spend long hours working during the week.
"When they get home they want to be with their families."
He said people who worked hard all day were less likely to want to then go out and work as a special constable afterwards.
"Police work has become specialised and we use far more advanced equipment and technology than we did before. For specials to work alongside regular officers, more training in this equipment is required."
He said he wanted to see more of police cadets joining the specials, but many people aged between 15 and 19 were in full time education.
"They often leave the area to go to university, and the skills they have learned in the cadets, such as confidence and communication are in high demand elsewhere," he said.
Divisional officer for the Lincoln division, Austin Nawton, said: "Many of the longer serving special constables have reached retirement age, or have actually left to join the regular police force. About 10 of our specials went into regular service recently.
"I have been a special for 36 years and it is such a big difference from my ordinary employment. I am self-employed.
"I find it is like having a hobby, like stamp collecting but a lot more interesting. Every time you go on duty it is different. You face different challenges, learn different skills and you never know what is going to happen next.
"You might have been expecting a nice quiet walk around talking to people and suddenly find yourself in the middle of a serious incident."
He said all specials were trained to use CS gas and 75 per cent had special licences to drive police vehicles.
"Specials really do cover a wide range of policing activities, from manning the enquiry office to looking for lost children.
"In rural areas the police force often relies on special constables to carry out day-to-day duties. Specials are dedicated people who are expected to work an average of four hours per week."
Lincolnshire Police aims to reach a target number of 300 specials and a report by HM Inspector of Constabulary for the North East region David Blakey, has highlighted the need to increase the number of new recruits.
Anyone interested in becoming a special constable should visit their local police station or call the national contact number on 0345 272 272.