A drive to recruit more volunteer police officers is being launched in Lichfield.
City based police are looking to swell the ranks of Special Constables who give up their spare time to work alongside regular officers on crime busting operations.
The latest recruitment drive gets underway this weekend (11/12 July) when Special Constables will be taking part in the Lichfield Mediaeval Market and the city police station’s open day.
The mediaeval market is being staged on Saturday (11 July) around Lichfield’s ancient cathedral. Police ‘Specials’ will be staffing their mobile police station in nearby Dam Street.
The following day (Sunday 12 July), Specials will be at the Lichfield police station ‘open day’ which held at the Frog Lane station between 11am and 4pm.
Would be recruits will be able to chat to a serving Special – one of Staffordshire’s 350-strong Special Constabulary – who will give future volunteers a personal insight into life in uniform.
Divisional Officer Syd Ambrose said:
“Working as a Special can offer a range of rewarding and fulfilling opportunities and a chance for people to put something back into their communities. In return for the training and support we offer, Special Constables bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their roles.
“We are also asking employers to support the recruitment drive. Having Specials on the staff can be a real asset because many of the leadership and community skills they are taught in their voluntary role are invaluable in the workplace.”
Chief Superintendent Mick Harrison, Commander of Trent Valley Division added:
“Specials make a superb contribution to public reassurance and community policing across the division. Individuals never cease to amaze me with their level of commitment and enthusiasm and I can’t think of a more direct contribution a member of the public can make than voluntarily offering to patrol our towns and villages.
“I would love to be able to increase their number substantially and hope this campaign encourages more people to step forward.”
Full details of how to become a Special Constable can be found on the Staffordshire Police website at: www.staffordshire.police.uk.
