SPECIAL Constable Tim Seabrook gives up 15 hours a week, including weekends, to fight crime - and he does it for free. Reporter VICTORIA BIRCH speaks to a man who wants to make a difference to the community

TIM Seabrook is a busy man.

The 27-year-old, from Old Amersham, is a full-time sales manager and a member of an amateur dramatics group.

But he still finds time to give something back to the community as a member of the Special Constabulary.

The are 50 specials in the Chiltern Vale area who work on a voluntary basis to support the police.

Their role has become vital to helping to fight crime as Thames Valley Police is struggling to recruit and retain regular officers.

Tim said: "Some people think we just go to accidents and stop traffic. We have the same duties and responsibilities as regular police officers, and there is a few of us who drive police vehicles. We also get trained the same as them.

"But we are there to support the regular police and not to replace them. We go out with them, and can go out by ourselves after two years. We are also able to make arrests."

Specials go out on the beat with the police, monitor events and take part in operations.

Tim added: "The police do a very good job; both of them. (Specials and regulars.) The problems are retaining full-time officers. Thames Valley are putting the pay under review. I get a good wage and am still able to do the same work. I wouldn't give up my job to do it full-time as It wouldn't be as financially rewarding as the job I do now. But I enjoy helping the community, I like to put something back into it."

In May 1998, Tim was promoted to the rank of area officer, which is equivalent to inspector in the regular police force. Few Specials achieve that rank due to stringent selection procedures.

Tim's duties include co-ordinating emergency call-outs and organising Specials' training.

He said: "When someone applies for it they have to have stringent tests, and the specials have two years probation. They will be told to go if they break force practice. We can get rid of them but in nine years I have only seen that happen once. We do have people come in and they don't like it.

"You have to be 18-and-a half upwards to join. Most people that apply stay for a couple of years and leave for career reasons. Lots of people like to do it so they can get into the police force."

He said he was offered promotion to chief area officer, but it would have meant working in another area so he decided to stay where he was.

Tim added: "I was asked to go to Slough to be the chief area officer in Slough, but because I live here and have worked here for nine years I have built up a good reputation."

He added: "All Specials have a choice of how many hours they work. It is four hours a week minimum. But you can do eight hours every two weeks. It is very flexible. I have been in lots of different situations and I always really enjoy it. I love it.

"I joined at 18-and-a half and now I am 27 and I have been fortunate enough to have never drawn my baton yet. I have always got out of it by calming the situation. It is all about resolving conflicts. Most of the time if we have got into an aggressive situation we just resolve it by talking, and de-escalate the situation.

Tim will be receiving a Good Conduct Medal for his many years of hard work.

"I am very excited about it. It will be presented by Sir Charles Pollard, I have never met the chief constable before.

"The best thing about this is meeting new people. A proportion of them are women. Probably about a fifth. They come from all walks of life. It is a position of authority, and we don't get enough recognition throughout the UK."