Specials from Tayside and Grampian have the opportunity to participate in the scheme in return for committing to work an agreed number of duties in support of their full-time colleagues.

The aim is to enhance the Special’s role, provide opportunities for their more effective management and deployment, encourage the retention, and above all provide recognition for the much-valued support from Specials.

Members of the Special Constabulary are supportive of the proposal, with a vast majority who can meet the commitment signing up to the agreed protocols.

In Tayside, 85 officers, representing 77% of its Specials, and in Grampian 80 of the force’s 110 Specials, are to participate in the scheme which will run until the end of March next year.

Special Constables who do not opt into the scheme will continue to parade for duty as per previous arrangements.

Tayside Police Assistant Chief Constable, Willie Bald, said, “The Special Constables in Tayside provide a valuable service that is very much appreciated by us and by the community. They are committed and professional in their approach to operational duties.

“This scheme will be a catalyst to initiate progress and evaluation of the Special Constabulary and allow us to examine further how we deploy these officers.

“It will also enable us to re-evaluate internal structures, including the development and retention of Specials. I will be watching closely as this pilot scheme evolves.”

Inspector John Caughey, from the Tayside Police staff development unit, added, “We recently trained another 18 Special Constables in preparation for duty, and their commitment and enthusiasm was a match for newly appointed probationary officers.

“Our current Specials are hard working and always in search of experience and new challenges. The scheme is an excellent way of harnessing their enthusiasm and recognising the excellent work they do on behalf of Tayside Police and the local community.”

Grampian’s Assistant Chief Constable, Pat Shearer, who holds responsibility for Specials under the Association of Chief Officers of Police in Scotland (ACPOS), said, “Scotland’s 1100 Special Constables provide much valued service in our communities.”