Awards to Calderdale’s Special volunteers

Jan 18 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SPECIAL Constables from across Calderdale will have their hard work and professionalism recognised at a divisional awards evening.

The volunteers who have dedicated their free time to keeping the streets of places such as Brighouse and Elland safe will receive framed certificates as a thank you for their hard work on Wednesday.

Nine Specials who volunteered for over 3,000 hours between them in 2009 will receive awards. Specials volunteered a total of 4,089 hours in 2009 in Calderdale alone.

Sgt Julian Hartley, from Calderdale Police, manages the division’s specials.

“This evening will be about recognising the fantastic work that Special Constables in Calderdale do,” he said.

“These are people who use their spare time to give something back to the community they live in.”

Recently-retired special constables will also be awarded certificates for their dedicated service.

Senior Section Officer Stuart Clarke – a Special who himself worked 536 hours in 2009, said: “We are volunteers who serve as police officers in our own time, without pay and often in the evenings or weekends.

“Our role consists of local intelligence based patrols and we work alongside Neighbourhood Policing Teams and as part of crime reduction initiatives to target specific local crime problems.”