THEY devote hours of their own time, for free, to help keep our communities safe.

Today, the Evening Post salutes the special constables who have come up trumps in the Avon and Somerset Community Policing Awards 2011.

So keen are the specials to make a difference to their communities most pound the beat on top of holding down a full-time job, and a family at home.

Before Christmas, communities were asked to nominate their favourite beat managers, policing teams, police community support officers, special constables and civilian staff as part of the fifth annual Community Policing Awards.

Organised by the police authority and constabulary, with sponsors including The Post, a total of 669 nominations were received.

After much debate, a judging panel has decided which men and women are top of the cops and the district winners in the Special Constable of the Year section are Lex Holland (Bristol); Maxine Edwards (B&NES); Ian Budd (Somerset East); Ian Phillips (Somerset West) and Ron Harper (North Somerset).

SC Holland has become a key member of the Henbury and Brentry beat team during her three years as a special.

She manages to put in about 20 hours of duty per month, over and above her day job in the force control room.

The 26-year-old, who has ambitions of becoming a regular officer one day, said: "I became a special constable for a bit of a challenge. I just enjoy increasing my skills and being out and about meeting people. Our beat can be very busy at times.

"I was shocked to win the award – it was a big surprise – but it's really nice to get recognition like this."

North Somerset winner SC Harper arrested one of the country's most dangerous criminals last year.

When he brought in Weston resident James Citro on suspicion of drink-driving and took a swab for DNA, little did he realise Citro was a convicted rapist wanted for an unsolved murder in 1998.

The 54-year-old was found guilty in October of murdering 44-year-old hotel worker Nijole Siskeviciene, in Wembley, London.

SC Harper, who has been a valuable member of the North Worle beat team for more than three years, said: "I've clocked up more than 70 arrests in my career as a special so far, but James Citro was definitely the most notable.

"He wasn't known to police at all for that murder, he just seemed quite a normal guy. I brought him in, took his DNA and it was a match for the profile from the murder case. He ended up getting life, with a minimum of 20 years."

The 37-year-old manages 60 hours per month as a special, on top of his full-time job as a community warden for Alliance Housing, who give him an extra 10 days annual leave a year.

The married father of two boys said: "I wanted to be a regular many years ago, but due to having a family etc it didn't happen.

"I really enjoy serving the community and am absolutely delighted to have won the award. It came as a complete shock.

"I would like to thank Alliance Housing and my family for all the support they have given me."

● The overall force winners for each of the categories will be announced on Thursday, March 8, at a Gala Dinner at Cadbury House, Congresbury.