Police force recruiting more volunteer officers

Northamptonshire Police said people applying to be special constables ranged in age, including 18-year-olds and retirees

A police force recruiting for more special constables has described the job as a "unique volunteering opportunity".

Julie Mead, head of citizens in policing at Northamptonshire Police, said they were seeking people with "emotional intelligence and extra resilience" to explore skills they might not know they had.

All volunteers are expected to dedicate a minimum of 16 hours per month.

The force already has 91 special constables working for the county.

Specials have the power to arrest, search individuals and premises, enforce road safety, and respond to calls including 999 emergencies.

They typically conduct patrols, try to tackle anti-social behaviour and manage public events, but also carry out investigations.

Specials are not paid but receive travel expenses.

Ms Mead said recruits were made up of people from all walks of life, including full-time mothers, electricians and delivery drivers.

Singer Rod Stewart's wife, Penny Lancaster, is perhaps the most well-known special constable and volunteers for City of London Police.

Ms Mead denied specials were just cheap policing.

"The specials are there to support front-line policing," she said.

"This is adding that extra value.

"We put a lot of investment into our volunteers, we don't just give people uniforms and ask them to go out because they do everything that regular constables do.

"So we invest in training, mentoring and making sure they know exactly what they're doing."