The Nigeria Police Force hasconcluded plans to engage thousands of Special Constables to work withconventional policemen in communities. This is part of measures to check risinginsecurity in the face of insufficient manpower. The Force Public Relations OfficerFrank Mba, confirmed the plan and explained that the candidates for theconstabulary would be between the ages of twenty one to fifty, and must bephysically fit and gainfully employed. The recruitment of the officers hasreceived presidential backing and it is expected to commence soon in Kaduna andother northern states where the traditional emirate and district structuressupport the system. It was further learnt that the policehad presented the idea to the state governors who were said to have bought intothe scheme. The men, who will not be armed, areexpected to handle charge room and administrative duties, crowd control,accident scene duties, alternative dispute resolution and other less sensitiveand less risky functions.