RECRUITMENT days are taking place in Colchester.
 

On Saturday, July 6, representatives will be at the Military Festival at Abbey Fields in Colchester between 10.30am and 3.30pm to share their experiences and answer questions about the role.
 

It will be the latest event following another drive in the town to get volunteers to help the police,
 

Officers set up a mobile unit in three Colchester supermarkets last Thursday to try and encourage people to lend their support.


Residents are being asked to find a level of help which suits them and the force whether it is being part of Neighbourhood Watch, part of the new

Operation Home Guard or even applying to become a special constable.
 

Hundreds of leaflets have also been delivered to Colchester homes with burglary advice as part of Op Home Guard.
 

Sgt Sue Richardson said: “We are looking to recruit at all levels of volunteers.
 

“We visited Sainsbury’s, Asda and Tesco with our mobile police van and there was a lot of interest.
 

“People seem willing to help and it even helped us with some other intelligence given in an area where people feel safe to talk to us.
 

“It seems the public want to help.”
 

Neighbourhood watch schemes run in different parts of Colchester with residents asked to work together to keep an eye out.
 

Op Home Guard could be described as a roving neighbourhood watch scheme with volunteers informing people of crime spates, passing out advice and passing information to police where necessary to support their inquiries.
 

Special Constables are trained and have the same level of power as a police constable.
 

They are required to commit to several hours a week.
 

To find out more call your crime reduction advisor on 101.
 

For more on Op Homeguard call 07718 512920.
 

To anonymously report criminal activity in Colchester call 01206 717660.

See the full story and a Gazette feature on the Special Constabulary in tomorrow's Gazette.