Officers on the road for Special events weekend
Thursday 04 February 2010, 4:10pm
The work of the Special Constabulary will be brought into focus this weekend with a range of events across the Force.
The theme for this year's Specials Weekend will be roads policing initiatives to improve public confidence.
The initiative is part of the National Specials Weekend on 6 and 7 February, which is designed to highlight the vital role performed by the Special Constabulary and the ongoing contribution its members make to policing in their communities.
In the Milton Keynes area, Special Constables will be supporting their roads policing colleagues to tackle the anti-social use of motor vehicles in hotspot areas and assist in casualty reduction activities.
In Pangbourne and Newbury, Special Constables will work alongside roads policing and neighbourhood officers on road safety checks and the anti-social use of vehicles in hotspot areas.
These are just some of a number of initiatives taking place to show the Special Constabulary at work.
The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) (opens new window) is responsible for national policy on Specials. Chief Constable Peter Neyroud, Chief Executive of the NPIA, said: "Specials provide a unique link with the communities they work within.
“They have a key role to play in neighbourhood policing with the diverse skills and experiences drawn from a life outside the force, as well as within. Specials are often frontline responders, and a key part of this is the contribution they make in roads policing, emphasising the importance of this event."
Special Constables are a vital part of policing in Thames Valley. They give their time, free of charge, in order to make our communities better places to live in. Most Special Constables have a full-time job, and are asked to give a minimum commitment of 18 hours a month.
In return, Thames Valley Police will give full training, experienced advice and support, and an exciting and varied posting.
Although they are volunteers, a Special Constable does the same job and has the same powers, uniform and equipment as a regular police officer.
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