POLICE in the Thames Valley region are on the lookout for more special constables. These volunteers can face exactly the same risks and rewards as full-time officers, but get no pay. GEMMA SIMMS went on the beat...

SPECIAL Constable Sylvia Masih is 21, Indian and five foot one. She devotes a lot of her spare time risking her life with broken bottles and confronting burly drunks.

She gets hassled occasionally because of her colour but although she is still young and small, Sylvia feels confident to tackle most situations.

There is an urgent need for more volunteers to join the specials in the Thames Valley area. But Sylvia doesn't do it because it is a well-paid, glamorous job - she only gets £30 for her tights and boots. She does it because it is something she has always been interested in. "It's certainly an eye-opener and I find it so rewarding. You have exciting days and you have low days," she said.

A typical day for Sylvia:

5.35: All seems quiet in Oxford city centre as people go home from work for a Bank Holiday break. Regular police officers tell Sylvia that although the previous night was quiet, she should keep highly visible in the centre so people know there is police presence.

5.50: Sylvia approaches two drunks sitting on a bench just yards from St Aldate's police station. One was trying to pick up a broken bottle. Sylvia tells him to leave it in case he cuts himself. The drunk asks Sylvia where she gets her suntan from and says he is racist. Sylvia takes his comments light-heartedly and walks away.

5.54: A car parks illegally in St Aldate's, so Sylvia asks that the car is moved immediately to prevent traffic problems.

6.00: Sylvia helps a tourist looking for St John's College.

6.05: Sylvia stops a car driving through Cornmarket Street and puts the driver back on course.

6.15: A beggar in Cornmarket Street is told by Sylvia not to beg. But once Sylvia's back is turned, the beggar continues to ask people for money. Sylvia tells me the woman will be arrested if she catches her doing it again. The beggar makes sure Sylvia is nowhere to be seen before she puts her hat back on the pavement. 7.00: Sylvia confronts a youth on a bus with no driver. It turns out the youth is looking after the bus until the driver returns.

7.30: Sylvia returns to the police station and I go out with Alison Gunston, who has been with the Special Constabulary for three years, and Pc Jason Ferris, who is in the regular force. Alison, 42, works part-time for a photographer and also trains special constables.

8.40: Two lads are ejected from a coach bound for Bournemouth because they are drunk. Passengers are delayed while police talk to the two men. After five minutes the two men understand the situation and stagger off quietly to catch a train instead. 8.50: Alison Gunston and Pc Ferris attend a pub after hearing a man who has taken his child out for the day hasn't returned her to her mother. The parents are separated. They check the girl is safe. Staff and customers are very helpful. One man says he has seen the man and that the child is safe and well.

Reports come through that the child is back at home.

9.10: Youths are involved in a drunken fight outside a building society in Cornmarket Street. Pc Ferris has gone on the beat with other officers but Alison has no qualms about striding over to the men. Other officers turn up to help. One lad is bundled into a police car and taken to the station. His friends are furious. Alison and I walk towards St Aldate's and the lads follow, trying to wind up Alison. An 18-year-old man is arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

10.30: Sylvia and I return to the city centre which is now buzzing with pubbers and clubbers. We check there is no trouble when the pubs close.

12.00: End of the shift. The city centre is now very quiet and there was no trouble when the pubs kicked out. For me, it was an exciting experience, for Sylvia it was just another night on the beat. Training for a tough job SPECIALS have evolved from attending fetes and carnivals to giving full support to regular police, said Insp Dennis Evernden, in charge of operations, planning and support.

"They basically outgrew the training and did not have adequate training to do what we asked of them," he said. "Now the training includes tactical communications, unarmed defensive tactics - such as body language - how to use batons, rigid handcuffs and CS spray. They go through set tests that a regular would go through and a day's extended assessment and tutor training and are then recommended for independent patrol."

This can take between eight months and a year. Specials are assigned to community beat teams to have full support of the regular police force.

"There is natural wastage," said Insp Evernden. "Some of the people we have are students and they move on so there is a constant need for more volunteers.

"We want to encourage people who want to serve their community to consider becoming a special constable. Our special constables come from all kinds of different backgrounds from BT engineers to children's nannies. They really do come from all walks of life."

For more information about joining the Special Constabulary, phone 01865 266168.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.