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Old Aberdeen

Are you Special?

Grampian Police are looking to recruit more Special Constables to provide additional support to local policing teams and communities. Are you Special?

Special Constables are trained volunteers who support and assist regular police officers carry out their duties. They wear the same uniform as regular police officers and have the same powers and responsibilities and can be called upon to assist in all areas of police work including patrols, community engagement, specialist operations, attending incidents and royal visits.

They can report for duty at any mutually-convenient time on a regular or irregular basis, depending on their work or lifestyle commitments. Some of the Force's Special Constables work in the evenings or at weekends. Others prefer to be on duty during the day.

Many Special Constables choose to work in the area where they live so that they can become more involved in their community. Others choose to work away from the area they live in, in order to keep their private lives and their police duties separate.

Ed Fitzgibbon, Local Policing Inspector for Tillydrone, Woodside and Old Aberdeen said: "Special Constables are a valued extra resource for us and they make a vital contribution to our local policing activities. They get a lot of satisfaction from helping make a difference in the community but they also improve their career prospects from the skills they develop working on the beat.  The ones working from the Tillydrone Office come out regularly and the full time Officers always appreciate the extra pair of hands.   "

Specials Constables are unpaid although a £1100 award is available if Specials join the recognition award scheme which requires a person to work a minimum of 45  four hour shifts over a 12 month period and attend some training nights.

Anyone interested in becoming a Special Constable can contact Sergeant Ian Chalmers on 0845 600 5700 or visit www.grampian.police.uk

March 2011