Volunteer police officers in Bradford will be using an upgraded camera system this weekend in a bid to cut down on road casualties.

Special Constables in the district will be running an operation, aimed at those who commit traffic offences, as part of National Specials Weekend, an annual event to promote the work of the Special Constabulary.

This year’s theme is road policing and officers will focus on the five major causes of death and injury on the roads – speeding, not wearing seatbelts, misuse of mobile phones, driving with excess alcohol or under the influence of drugs and uninsured and untaxed vehicles.

Thousands of pounds have been spent on upgrading the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system (ANPR) in Bradford, which now has about 85 cameras. It will be used this weekend to check as many motorists as possible.

Special Section Officer Gerry Slade said: “The key aims of this operation are to target criminal use of our roads and help reduce casualties. ANPR vehicles will be placed in problem areas and, along with the static ANPR cameras, will collate data which officers in marked police vehicles will then act on. We also want to increase awareness among the local community about what the police and local agencies do to tackle crime and anti-social vehicle use and to encourage the public to play their part in helping stop crime.”

Inspector Osman Khan said: “Specials play a vital role in policing Bradford. They have the same powers as regular police officers and they can arrest people and seize vehicles or drugs.

“What puts the special into Special Constables is that they volunteer to do this job and many of them have another full-time job as well.”

Anyone interested in becoming a Special Constable should visit westyorkshire.police.uk or call (01924) 292293.