POLICE bosses are looking for fresh volunteers to bolster the ranks of Special Constables, who serve communities in York and across North Yorkshire.

The force has joined a national campaign to attract new recruits to the unpaid uniformed role after a steady decline in numbers over the past few years.

North Yorkshire Police was recently given £70,000 by the Home Office to pay for tutoring, training and equipment costs to help draw at least 75 more Specials over the next three years.

Figures published at the end of 2002 showed North Yorkshire was losing Specials twice as fast as it could recruit them. The total number slipped to only 186, 151 fewer than when Labour came to power in 1997.

However, senior officers are not expected to follow the lead of neighbouring Humberside Police, which became the first force to pay Specials when it announced it had set aside £1,500 a year in return for 208 hours work.

Inspector Charlie Kay, who has been working alongside Special Constables for 14 years, said their role forms a key element in modern policing.

He said: "They are a key force resource. Most of them join to put something back into their community. Some people have 30 years' experience and that sort of commitment is incredible.

"They are well-respected by their colleagues. At the end of the day if you are turning out three or four extra bobbies on a weekend evening shift, that is a great assistance."

Although Special Constables are unpaid, they receive similar support and supervision as their regular colleagues as well as similar traveling expenses, refreshment allowance and uniform.

Some regularly help police at sporting or agricultural events, or have an interest in specialist work such as crime prevention, but the majority work operationally by patrolling their community on foot or in a police vehicle.

The Police On Doorsteps van will be stationed in St Sampson's Square, York, from 10am onwards on the weekend of February 28 and 29. Officers and specials will be on hand to answer questions about volunteering. Information about joining the Specials is also available by calling North Yorkshire Police on 01609 783131 or by emailing specials@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

Updated: 10:42 Thursday, February 19, 2004