It's the young bill

TAMASH LAL looks at the work of young volunteers helping to keep law and order in our community

EVERY weekend, a group of twenty-somethings turn their backs on Swindon's clubs, pubs and bars to help boost the thin blue line.

Many young people who are bored with the routine of booze-soaked nights followed by hungover mornings are signing up to become volunteer police officers.

Rather than sweat it out on a crowded dancefloor, they prefer to be out on patrol, helping the police tackle crime as special constables.

Some sign up because they want a taste of life at the front line before committing themselves to a career in the police, while for others it is a rewarding way to help their community. Divisional Officer Andy Carr is in charge of Swindon's 45 specials.

He believes more youngsters are recognising the value of civic duty.

He said: "We all know that communities are more fragmented nowadays.

"I think young people want to do something to bring back that old fashioned sense of being part of a community."

They might be volunteers, but specials have the same powers as their regular counterparts, as well as a similar uniform.

Last month saw a major recruitment drive swing into action across the country to boost the number of specials and highlight the vital role they play.

In Swindon, officers mounted a stand in the Brunel Centre at weekends.

So far, nearly 100 application packs have been sent out.

Mr Carr, 35, a financial systems manager of the Thatches, Groundwell, has been a special constable for 10 years.

He said: "Specials provide a vital link between the police and the community they serve.

"We are a valuable resource, and since April last year specials have provided a total of 5,000 hours of service.

"We give support to our regular officers on Friday and Saturday nights and help police events, like football matches.

"We also manage the traffic during events like Remembrance Day marches."

LUCY ILES - Lucy Iles was brought up to respect law and order, and joined the specials to help fight crime.

Since joining in January, Lucy, of West Swindon, has been shocked by the behaviour of drunken louts hoisted off to the cells every weekend.

The 24-year-old accountant with Kembrey Wiring, Greenbridge, said: "I was recently helping to transport people arrested for being drunk and disorderly, and was shocked by their reaction.

"They swear at you and call you a pig, but you just have to ignore them.

"It makes you aware of what drink does to people."

Lucy has just completed her initial training.

So far she has been out on patrol twice.

She added: "I like doing something more worthwhile with my weekends than going out drinking.

"I also think it will be really rewarding when I make my first arrest."

SHARLOTTE BEER - WHILE her friends are out clubbing, Sharlotte Beer is pounding the beat in Parks and Walcot.

But the 24-year-old recruitment consultant from Cloudberry Road, Haydon Wick has no regrets.

Given the choice, she would rather spend her time helping tackle crime than out on a boozy tour of the town centre.

Sharlotte, who works at Adecco recruitment consultants in Commercial Road, said: "I used to go out in town like everyone else, but I got tired of seeing the same faces and the same places."

Sharlotte has always wanted to be a regular officer, but wanted a taste of life in the force before committing herself.

"I like the fact that you get to meet lots of different people, and never know what is going to happen next," she said.

"Being a special also helps me in my day job because I have improved my communication skills and feel I can deal with difficult situations."

Since signing up eight months ago, she has made one arrest a shoplifter.

She has now applied to become a regular officer.

JO FIELD - FOR Jo Field, becoming a special is a step towards achieving her dream of becoming a full-time officer.

And given the choice, Jo would much rather be out crime-busting and helping regular officers than joining the hordes of town centre revellers every weekend.

The 27-year-old, from West Swindon, said: "Being out policing is more exciting and much more productive."

Jo has been a volunteer for just over a year-and-a-half, and has now applied to join the force full-time.

She commits 10 hours a week, much of which is spent dealing with domestic incidents and troublesome youths.

Jo is also proud to have made one arrest.

She said: "The hardest part of the job is dealing with aggressive people, but you get taught how to handle difficult situations."

Jo has also been doing voluntary work at the reception desk at Swindon Police Station since being made redundant from her job in a call centre.

Can you give 16 hours a month?

Specials are aged between 181/2 and 55, and there is no longer any height requirement. Swindon police have 45 specials aged between 19 and 52.

The minimum requirement is 16 hours a month.

Initial training takes place over three weekends at Wiltshire Constabulary's headquarters in Devizes.

Trainees learn self-defence, including how to use police batons and CS spray, first aid and are also given a legal grounding and taught about their duties.

They can then go on patrol with another officer. They might find themselves policing the town centre at weekends, dealing with nuisance youths, attending domestic incidents or transporting offenders who are in custody.

Each special is assigned a regular officer who acts as a supervisor. The supervisor guides the trainee through a personal development plan. Once that is completed, the volunteers can go out unaccompanied. They are unpaid and only get expenses.

For more details on becoming a special, call Marie Wood, at Swindon police, on 01793 507895.

Tamash Lal