Hertfordshire Constabulary has welcomed 16 new special constable recruits during their attestation on Thursday, February 27.

Over the past nine weeks, the new recruits have been spending their weekends learning the role of a special constable.

Some have already begun their first shifts at police stations across the county including, Watford, St Albans, Stevenage, Hertford and Hatfield, Borehamwood.

Over the next 12 months, the new recruits will continue their training, allowing them to pass out as substantive special constables once they are qualified.

David Tewkesbury, special constabulary chief officer, said: "It is great to welcome our new special constables to the force. I have no doubt that each of them will make a valuable contribution to the constabulary as a whole and the local communities they are already policing.

"Specials constables are an incredibly valuable resource to the constabulary. They receive training to ensure they can play their part, being involved in all types of policing such as tackling anti-social behaviour and public order patrols.

"Specials also have the opportunity to get involved in specialist operations such as Operation Sentinel - the county’s dedicated drive to keeping criminals out of Hertfordshire through ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology."

The new recruits bring the total number of Hertfordshire’s special constables to 434.

The force is looking to recruit around 450 special constables this year.

Some of the specials who were attested last week have already begun their first shifts at their respective police stations. They include:

• Eighteen-year-old Gemma Walsh-Beasley lives in Watford and is based at Watford Police Station.
• Nineteen-year-old William Beaumont lives in Cheshunt and is based at Hoddesdon Police Station.
• Twenty seven-year-old Michael Crouchen lives in Sawbridgeworth and is based at Hatfield Police Station.
• Eighteen-year-old Ryan Lloyd lives in Hemel Hempstead and is based at Hatfield Police Station.
• Thirty four-year-old David Morris lives in Stevenage and is based at Hatfield Police Station.
• Eighteen-year-old Harry Tuck lives in Borehamwood and is based at Borehamwood Police station.
• Twenty two-year-old Dominic Tyson lives in Luton and is based at St Albans Police Station.
• Nineteen-year-old Yasemin Raghip lives in Harlow and is based at Hertford Police Station.