A police Special volunteer is set to step down after maintaining the thin blue line on a voluntary basis since 1970, an achievement which has been hailed as ‘outstanding’. Stuart Minting reports.

BREAKING up brawls and shimmying up drainpipes in the middle of the night has been all part of a day's work for Alan Simpson for the past 46 years.

Only part of days's work though, as alongside his voluntary duties as a Special for North Yorkshire Police, Mr Simpson's main career has seen him tackle very different challenges while running his own farm, working on others and constructing rural buildings, until he retired three years ago.

As he prepares to step down from his role as Richmondshire Special Inspector next month, Mr Simpson says he has been "very fortunate" in being able to continue the role since when Edison Lighthouse were number one with Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes and Chrysler launched the Hillman Avenger in February 1970.

“Yes it's true that I have been in for a long time, but I don't see myself as being any more worthy than someone who has served ten, 15 or 20 years in the Specials and then subsequently retired or resigned because of personal circumstances.

“My personal circumstances and location have played a large part in my long service, living only half a mile from the station. I count myself very fortunate in that others have had to travel much greater distances to perform duty and with a greater disruption to their day job and family life.

“I would say one of the main things that has kept me chipping away over the years was the constant support, help and friendliness of the regular officers who I have had the pleasure of working with", he says.

"I would like to take this opportunity of thanking them sincerely for the help they have given us all."

He says other secrets to his longevity within the force have been flexibility and the rewarding nature of the role.

“I always had a policy of working with all the shifts never favouring one shift over another, consequently it made it very easy to work anytime I liked", says Mr Simpson. "I can't recall a duty I did, no matter how short it was, when I didn't have back up from the regs, should it be required, or that I wasn't thanked for turning out by someone or other before I went home.”

He joined York and North East Yorkshire Constabulary - four years before North Yorkshire Police was formed - after his snooker partner, a Richmond-based policeman, nagged him to become a Special, who have identical powers to their regular colleagues.

“The next thing I knew was the village bobby turning up at the house with the all the paperwork,” he says.

Alan was attested in the farmhouse kitchen of the local Justice of the Peace, who he knew well as a neighbouring farmer, and whose son was also a special.

He says some of his most memorable moments as a Special were disabling a burglar alarm 25ft up a house gable end that was keeping every one awake at two in the morning, to breaking up numerous fights outside nightclubs and pubs.

Mr Simpson's devotion to bolstering the thin blue line and array of skills he has accumulated over the years has seen him win a string of accolades, including the Diamond Jubilee medal and the national Ferrers' Trophy Team Award.

Inspector Mark Gee describes Mr Simpson as "a key member of the Richmondshire community". "He is well known by local residents and provided a key link with people who live and work in the area", says Insp Gee. "His knowledge of rural issues and support for Rural Watch made him a vital member of the team who contributed a huge amount in helping us keep the area safe.

“Alan is a true example of all that makes an exemplary Special Constable. He has been a great role model and mentor to both Special Constables and regular officers and I, alongside my colleagues wish Alan all the very best in retirement.”

Mr Simpson’s final day with force will be February 2, after which he plans to jet off to New Zealand to visit his three brothers. And then, he says he might return to North Yorkshire to do some more volunteering.

Chief Constable Dave Jones added: “46 years as a Special Constable is a truly outstanding achievement. My thanks go to Alan for his commitment to policing in North Yorkshire, he is a great inspiration to us all.”

As Mr Jones launches a recruitment drive this month for 70 more Specials to join the force's team of 198, Mr Simpson's advice to anyone joining has nothing to do with techniques for breaking up fights or scaling houses.

He says recruits should simply get to know as many regulars as possible at your base station and go on duty with them. “There are many styles of policing and it enables one to witness quite a few of them,” he says.

For details about volunteering with the Specials, visit nypspecials.com