Special Constables crack down on speeding drivers, people not wearing seatbelts and drivers using mobile phones
To ensure we are Keeping South Wales Safe dedicated South Wales Police Special Constables will be cracking down on speeding drivers, people not wearing seatbelts and drivers using mobile phones, as part of National Specials Weekend.
South Wales Police has 227 volunteer Special Constables who give their time to help make their communities safer.
National Specials Weekend, on 6th and 7th February 2010, is a national campaign to celebrate the Special Constabulary and aims to show residents the valuable work Specials do to tackle local issues.
And Specials across the South Wales Police force will be carrying out high visibility operations to tackle a variety of road safety concerns raised by residents, as part of the weekend.
Activities in South Wales Police force will include:
Cardiff, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend and Swansea areas:
Operations to catch speeding drivers in areas where residents have raised concerns about speeding at Pact (Partnerships and Communities Together) meetings.
In Swansea a mobile police station will be based at the Tesco store in Fforest Fach, where Specials will be handing out road safety information and showing a DVD warning of the impact of texting while driving.
Merthyr and Cynon valleys:
Operations to catch speeding drivers in areas where residents have raised concerns about speeding at Pact (Partnerships and Communities Together) meetings.
Operations to tackle people not wearing seatbelts and using mobile phones at the wheel.
A road safety exhibition will also be held at the Asda store in Aberdare.
South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Dave Morris said: “This weekend is just one example of the ways our Specials are working to tackle issues raised by residents, to help keep our communities safe.
“The weekend aims to show residents the value of the work the Specials are doing, and how it is contributing to keeping our communities safe.
“Speeding, not wearing seatbelts and using mobiles while driving all cost lives.
“In 2009 in South Wales Police there were 45 fatal collisions in which 47 people were killed, 12 of which were under the age of 25.
“Specials across the force will be targeting those breaking the law and educating drivers as part of the force’s ongoing drive to reduce the number of people killed and injured on our roads.”
Every week across the force our dedicated Specials are volunteering their time to help their communities and tackle issues that matter to residents.
Assistant Chief Constable Dave Morris said: “Once they have completed their training Specials have the same powers as regular officers.
“Some work alongside our neighbourhood policing teams to tackle the issues residents raise concerns about in Pact meetings.
“This could include putting on extra patrols if residents are concerned about anti social behaviour or are worried about alcohol-related crimes on a Friday or Saturday night.
“Other Specials may be helping at road accidents, supporting victims’ families, or helping police major events.
“This operation is focusing on one weekend but every week our Specials will be continuing to provide vital support to their communities.”
National Specials Weekend is an annual event. Each year a theme is set by the Special Constabulary National Consultative Group in conjunction with the National Policing Improvement Agency and Association of Chief Police Officers.
This year’s theme is Roads Policing.
For more information about being a Special in the South Wales Police Force area you can contact the South Wales Police HR Helpdesk on 01656 305870 or look at their dedicated Specials pages for more information.
