Specials work alongside full officers

National and regional advertisements on television, radio and in the press from Monday will portray volunteers doing the same work as regular officers.

It is aimed at reversing the decline in the number of volunteers, which has fallen by 40% in the past seven years.

There are currently just over 11,000 special constables in 43 police forces.

They are expected to spend at least four hours a week on policing duties.

They are the ultimate active citizens, creating the crucial link between police and communities Hazel Blears Police Minister

Work is unpaid but a few forces have begun offering incentives, such as a one-off or annual payment of �1,000 or more.

The campaign continues the theme of the award-winning "Could You?" police recruitment campaign.

It shows a special constable working along with a regular officer and dealing with incidents such as anti-social behaviour and a car crash.

Viewers only find out at the end that the special is a volunteer with another day job.

'Vital'

Police Minister Hazel Blears said: "Special constables are an essential part of our police service.

"They are the ultimate active citizens, creating the crucial link between police and communities and providing us with an excellent example of what communities should and can be."

The numbers of volunteer police officers in England and Wales has fallen drastically.

There were 20,000 when Labour came to power in 1997 but just over 11,000 in March last year.