It’s National Specials’ Weekend this weekend.

Devon and Cornwall Police and police forces around the country will be highlighting the work their Special Constabularies, generally known as ‘Specials’, do in supporting safeguarding communities.

Special constables work a minimum 16 hours each month, all voluntarily and in their own spare time.

Devon and Cornwall Police has 460 Specials, with 40 more due to join in September.  Their ages range from 20 to 68. In 2016-17 Specials put in over 95,000 duty hours across the force area.

Special Constables are now more integrated into the fabric of policing than ever, taking on specialist functions including roads policing, rural crime, public order duties, professional standards and cyber-crime to name but a few.

Marc Kastner, Chief Officer, Special Constabulary, said: ‘We are incredibly lucky with the volunteers, both special constables and police support volunteers, who regularly give their time to serving their communities. Their commitment supports paid staff to make Devon and Cornwall such a treasured place to live and work.’

Devon and Cornwall Police is not currently accepting new applications to become a Special Constable, but you can find out more about the entry requirements on the force’s website, www.devon-cornwall.police.uk