POLICE are looking to recruit community-spirited volunteers to help tackle anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in the county.

The force is looking for volunteers to join 69-year-old recent recruit Philip Curwen in volunteering to become a special constable and stress there is no upper age limit - although applicants do have to be at least 18.

Sgt Martin Midgley, the force’s specials co-ordinator, said the constabulary was particularly looking for people who are settled in their careers but want to improve the areas in which they live.

He said so far the force had received between 80 and 90 applications, with 146 declarations of interest, and were looking to keep the numbers of specials across the county at around 240.

Sgt Midgley said: “We always get applications into the specials from people who want to become police officers and are dipping their toes to see if it’s something that will suit them.

“We’re trying to push for people who have got a career but are fed up of the anti-social behaviour in their area and want to do something about it.”

Specials, who work alongside neighbourhood policing and immediate response teams, volunteer a minimum of 16 hours per month – often in two eight-hour shifts – and can be deployed to fulfill a number of roles.

These include reassurance patrols following burglaries, car crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as providing a presence at major public events, such as football matches and music festivals.

Special Constable Curwen, who already works for the police as their East Lancashire restorative justice mediation co-ordinator and has volunteered with The Samaritans for 27 years, said: “You can start form 18 but there is no upper age limit. I am the proof of that really.

"There are so many opportunities being in the specials you can actually get involved in. It is really interesting, It does enhance the life skills you maybe already have.”

Sgt Midgley said specials are highly-valued within the force – helping to fill the gap in officer numbers left by budget cuts.

He said that while mostly being deployed in their local area – unless a request is made to work further afield – specials can be specifically deployed to boost an area where there is a numbers shortage, such as areas with small neighbourhood policing teams which have been hit by a rise in anti-social behaviour.

The closing date for applications is 11.55pm on March 1.

To apply visit https://bit.ly/2PaBT24.