IN the past month I’ve been heavily involved with work ongoing within the force to revitalise the special constabulary.

I’ve learned much over the past few weeks about those individuals who choose to give their time on a voluntary basis to, in a nutshell, do my job as well as their own.

I’m a great supporter of those who volunteer time to help others on any day of the week but to give time to deal with issues and situations which most would shy away from is admirable in the extreme.

These people work a full day then don the uniform and head out to support us and you in providing a skilled police presence to support their regular colleagues.

Within North Yorkshire Police we have around 190 special constable colleagues and they are worthy of our (as members of this community) thanks and support.

Inexplicably, given the strong sense of community here in the Whitby area, I only have two special constables at present working here from the station.

If you can spare any time (around 16 hours per month) and are interested then please get in touch.

You can email our area co-ordinator Zoe Fothergill at zoe.fothergill@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or via the (0845) 6060247 number.

Both she and I would be pleased to hear from you.

The end of this month marks the deadline for nominations for the Safer Neighbourhood Officer and Police Community Support Officer of the year.

We’ve been circulating the nomination forms around parish councils and other partners but if there is an officer who you would particularly like to nominate then please drop us a line here at the police station. You can email whitbydistrictsnt@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk including your details and we’ll be in touch to complete the forms.

I’m minded that we here at Whitby have had an officer not only reach the finals of this event but actually WIN the award of Neighbourhood Policing Officer of the Year for the past two years.

If I were a football manager I’d be keen on achieving the “hat-trick” and retaining the trophy.

I am keen on getting one of our officers to the finals and showing the rest of North Yorkshire the support we still enjoy here and the engagement my officers have in the area.

Give some serious thought to nominating someone who may have given you or your area continuing support over the past 12 months.

On another note, it was mentioned at a recent meeting the issue of anti-social vehicle use was raising its head again.

I mentioned we have powers to seize vehicles which are used in a way that is “anti-social” that is, excessive noise, careless driving etc, having once warned the driver.

It appears not a lot of people know that (to quote Michael Caine).

If we encounter a vehicle being so used we warn the driver.

If that driver has reason to be spoken with again we can seize the vehicle.

The moral is don’t suffer in silence.