North Yorkshire's most senior police officer has thrown her support behind the tireless work of the county's Special Constables and hit back at her armchair critics.

Chief Constable Della Cannings has backed a new drive to attract 75 more individuals to the force to work in their communities as uniformed volunteers.

She told the Evening Press that she contrasted the dedicated work of Special officers to critics of North Yorkshire Police who "sit at home writing letters of complaint to their local press".

Ms Cannings last week came under fire in our letters page when controversial proposals to charge residents a premium rate for calling the police on non-urgent matters were raised and quickly dropped.

She said: "Did voluntary work in the community go out of fashion? Never, it is now back bigger than ever. There's more to life that your job.

"We have Special Constables who always look forward to their duties which take them away from their homes and their daily jobs.

"More importantly they feel they can contribute in a meaningful way to building safer and sustainable communities.

"The Specials are people from a range of backgrounds, who don't just sit at home writing letters of complaint to their local press, but get up and take action in a constructive way.

"Specials also bring a breadth of other skills to policing which are extremely valuable, as is their local knowledge within the community."

She added: "I welcome those with the staying power to join the special constabulary. We want those who can commit long-term to the police and their community."

Ms Cannings' father served for 17 years as an inspector with the Specials in Exeter, after his career as a station sergeant for the Metropolitan Police in central London was interrupted by the Second World War.

She said: "I remember him leading a range of duties from dealing with criminals to leading the Mayor of Exeter to the Remembrance Day service, through to football duties and general patrol work. It was rewarding work that gave him great satisfaction."

Information on joining the Special Constabulary will be available in St Sampson's Square, York, on the weekend of February 28 and 29 from 10am onwards.

Updated: 10:36 Friday, February 20, 2004