A ‘special’ team of officers is now helping keep an eye on the region’s roads as part of a brand new road safety unit.

Based at Police Headquarters in Colwyn Bay the unit, made up of six members of North Wales Police’ Special Constabulary, will work closely alongside their colleagues in the roads policing unit and safer neighbourhood teams across the region. 

The unit is supporting the current Christmas Anti Drink and Drug Drive Campaign which launched at the start of December and all officers are now trained to use the roadside drug swipe kit.

They made their first drug drive arrest last week after a man was stopped on Nant Hall Road in Prestatyn.

Specials Chief Officer, Mark Owen said: “As the Force Special Constabulary continues to grow in numbers, we are also growing in terms of the work we involve ourselves in and the specialisms we undertake.

“The team compromises a special sergeant and five special constables, who will focus their time on helping to make the roads of North Wales safer by focussing on areas of concerns within communities across the region such as anti-social driving, drink driving, speed enforcement sites and any specific road safety operations. The work will be intelligence driven and will assist Safer Neighbourhood Teams and Roads Policing Unit in providing a specialist resource.”

Over the coming months the team will also have a presence at local events to not only provide road safety advice, but to also help promote the work of the special constabulary.

They will also link in closely with school liaison officers to help highlight the risks and consequences to younger drivers and will work with young drivers to help deter bad driver behaviour.

And they will work alongside the community speed watch initiative which has localised schemes across the region.

Chief Superintendent Neill Anderson, Head of North Wales Police’s Operational Support Services, said: “We are really pleased to have the additional support of this new unit from the Special Constabulary out, on patrol and already making a difference.

“This complements North Wales Police’ focus on creating a safer North Wales for all members of the community.”

North Wales Police currently have 179 Special Constables who work alongside regular officers, and are expected to commit at least four hours service a week. They are given training and a uniform, and have all the powers and authority of regular officers.

To keep up to date with the latest information regarding the Special Constabulary in North Wales by following @NWPSpecialCO on Twitter or follow the North Wales Police Special Constabulary page on Facebook.