Special clocks up 10,000 hours work

A special constable from Dudley has clocked up a quarter of a century with West Midlands Police, totalling more than 10,000 hours of voluntary work.

By day Paul Brown, aged 45, who lives in Halesowen, is a depot manager for BOC Gases in Brierley Hill. But in his spare time he is out on the beat as a "special".

Paul joined up in 1986 on the police J Division, originally based at Dudley, moving to Sedgley before taking up a post at his Lye base in 2002 - now part of Dudley Local Policing Unit.

Paul said: "I joined the Special Constabulary to meet the public and help to deal with any issues in their hour of need.

"Over the years, I have done just that and it has been a very rewarding thing to do.

"I have had an amazing journey with the specials and have seen more changes than most over the years, especially with how the Special Constabulary has developed and become an integral part of neighbourhood policing.

"The role of a special constable has changed a lot since I first started. When I joined, specials were mainly used for policing fetes, carnivals and other special events.

"The image and role of the special constable has totally transformed, from the old 'hobby bobby' image, to professional volunteer police officers, who wear and carry the same uniform and equipment as regular police officers and have to go through an intensive training course."

Head of Dudley Special Constabulary, District Officer James Horton, said: "Paul has dedicated a tremendous amount of unpaid hours to the policing of Dudley borough during his service, often after a hard day's work.

"His sense of humour, combined with his knowledge and policing skills, demonstrates how being a volunteer police officer has played a very rewarding and unforgettable part of Paul's life."

Dudley Local Policing Unit has 75 members of the Special Constabulary, who commit to a minimum of 16 hours a month.

Special constables have the full powers of a regular Police Constable.