So many special police officers in Cumbria have decided to join the regular force that more special recruits are being sought.

Commandant of the specials for Cumbria Bill Oliver said that some special officers who joined up to discover if a career change to the police would suit them had now made a permanent move to the regular force.

In addition, some younger special officers had become more experienced and felt ready to join up full-time.

Other special

officers had joined the regular force although initially they had no plans to do so.

Currently there are around 100 special officers throughout the county but Mr Oliver said he would be happy to recruit as many again.

There are opportunities right across Cumbria, and specials would normally serve from their nearest police station.

Specials should be aged between 18-and-a-half and 50, with a reasonable level of fitness.

They are required to take an interview and sit the police initial recruitment test, which includes basic arithmetic and

English, and which has the same pass mark as the regular force.

Mr Oliver said: "We are just looking for people with a range of life skills.

People who know a bit about life, are good at communicating with people, and like to help the community.

"They get a sense of helping the community, it develops their communication skills, and the training we provide in IT and so forth can be transferred to the workplace."

Special officers carry out the full variety of police work, including uniform foot patrol, uniform mobile patrol and plain clothes observations.

As with all police work there is a chance that a special might be injured while on duty, but this is rare and specials are provided with full safety training and protective equipment.

Specials are required to carry out a minimum service of 200 hours a year but this can be arranged to tie in with family and work commitments.

The work is voluntary but out-of-pocket expenses for travelling and meals are payable, and the uniform and equipment are provided free.

Anyone interested should contact the recruitment department on 01768-217095.