A TEAM of police officers clocked up hundreds of arrests last year and helped many victims of crime without receiving a penny for their efforts.

Members of Durham Special Constabulary, unpaid volunteers with the Durham force, contributed more than 22,000 duty hours throughout 2014.

The 86 officers working across County Durham and Darlington - who in most cases have full time jobs outside of their policing role - include teachers, students, engineers, training managers, shop assistants, social workers, nurses and call handlers.

Over the 12 months of the year they arrested 255 suspected offenders, attended 709 reports of anti-social behaviour and attended more than 400 domestic incidents.

They also dealt with searches for 83 missing persons, had direct contact with 513 victims of crime and attended 101 community events.

Special Constables, including those attached to the roads policing section of the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, attended 130 road traffic collisions from bumps to fatal crashes and seized 19 uninsured vehicles.

The figures, compiled for the Specials’ annual report, also highlight the support the officers gave to the rural crime fighting scheme Farmwatch, joint operations with agencies like HM Revenue and Customs and events such as international cricket matches at Chester-le-Street, the Tour de France in North Yorkshire and country shows.

Durham police’s Deputy Chief Constable, Michael Banks, said: “Special Constables have been an integral part of policing since 1831 but never more effective than they are now.

“The standards of recruitment and training are purposefully stringent and that is why we can be confident that the service they provide in supporting their regular police colleagues, individual citizens and the community is highly professional.”.

Temporary Special Chief Officer Dale Checksfield, head of the force’s volunteer officers, said: “On a daily basis I am impressed by the professionalism and dedication of Special Constables in Durham Constabulary.

“Working closely with our full time colleagues, police staff and partner agencies the Special Constabulary delivers real benefits to our communities.”

Special Constables are fully warranted officers with full police powers, including the power of arrest, who volunteer a minimum of 16 hours a month.