MERSEYSIDE Police has been given £158,338 by the Government to provide an additional 800 special constables by the end of next year.

Welcoming this news, Les Byrom, Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Wirral South, said: "The special constabulary is an excellent way to help assist the regulars and use the budget to its best.

"I hope some of these specials can be used early evening to patrol the off licences and other congregating areas where youths often hang out. This beat patrolling in residential areas would be the ideal thing for special constables and free up the highly trained regulars for a targeted attack on known criminals."

He added: "I will contact the police to see what plans they have to place extra special constables in areas such as Bebington, Heswall, Bromborough, Clatterbridge and Eastham. It is essential that residential areas are covered as well as city areas.

"I am also lobbying ministers in favour of the suggestion put forward by the Audit Commission that job seekers could be paid to join the special constabulary. While still part time, this would improve the strength of the force and give job seekers a community involvement."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.