West Mercia Police is to be invited to bid for cash to help recruit and train more special constables from a £2.25 million funding package announced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.Miss Smith said that she wanted to see another 6,000 more specials working alongside the police and community support officers on the streets, bringing the total numbers to 20,000 in England and Wales.

The West Mercia force, which serves Shropshire, Worcestershire and Hereford, will be asked to put in a bid for its share of the funding, which will be supervised by a new regional specials co-ordinator.

Special constables are volunteers who serve in their own time and have full powers of paid officers within their force and neighbouring force areas, including the power of arrest.

They are often used on patrol and to target specific crime problems in the evening and at weekends.

Miss Smith said: “Special constables are a vital part of our modern police service. They are the citizens who feel so deeply about their communities that they are prepared to put on a uniform and work alongside regular police officers and community support officers to help reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.

“Every day of the week, specials are making a real difference – responding to people’s concerns and making communities safer places to live. The funding I am announcing will ensure that the Special Constabulary can grow and continue their outstanding work.”

The West Midlands regional co-ordinator will work with the four forces in the region to bring about a “more targeted approach” to the recruitment and development of special constables, ensuring they are drawn from and work in their local communities.

Peter Neyroud, chief executive of the National Policing Improvement Agency, said: “The nine new regional co-ordinators will drive forward a more targeted approach to the recruitment and development of Special Constables.”

He said they will work closely with the local forces to identify need.

By John Hipwood