A new volunteer police taskforce has been set up in Aberdeen.
The special constables group has been set up by Constable Sonny Simpson of the Tillydrone community policing team.
Its aim is to help utilise volunteer officers in local operations.
Last night, Constable Simpson said it was the next step in helping to integrate the officers.
He said: “Special Constables are a vital part of our community policing teams and they typically gain experience of general police work by attending calls such as housebreakings, assaults and missing person inquiries.
“However, as they do not work full-time, they can, on occasion, miss out on the opportunity to become involved in specific pre-planned operations.”
Among those who have signed up for the task force is Joshua Michie.
He said: “Although I enjoy going out on patrol and carrying out the normal day to day duties with the Seaton community policing Team, I was looking to enhance my skills and experience as a special constable. Information about the taskforce was circulated and it sounded like it would expose me to some different types of police work that I don’t normally get involved in.
“I was part of the patrols over Bonfire weekend and today I am on patrol in Tillydrone as part of a road safety operation in and around the Diamond Bridge.”
The volunteer officers gave up more than 80 hours of their free time to assist the force over Bonfire Night weekend.