A student and a landscape gardener from Nantwich are to star in a new BBC One series – as crime fighters!

Laurence Towers and Amber-Louise Evans are among six new Cheshire Police recruits starring in the series, “First Time on the Front Line”.

The new recruits were followed by BBC cameras for the documentary which shows the journey from “civvy street” to policing the beat.

The series, which hits our screens from Monday (April 28), follows the successful Special Constabulary applicants from their early days of training.

Special Constables are volunteers who give up some of their time to support the work of the police force.

It’s a far cry from the day job for Laurence, who works as a self-employed landscape gardener.

But for Amber-Louise a full time student on the policing, law and investigation degree at the University of Chester, she will putting the theory into practice.

Specials have the same powers as a police officer and are trained to the same standard.

Other new Cheshire Specials starring in the show include Martin Toner, Sarah Johnson, Rebecca Purcell, and Andrew Robinson.

Among many challenges they will face on camera are attending drugs raids, dealing with antisocial behaviour, traffic collisions and licensing operations.

Viewers will witness them swearing an oath of allegiance at an attestation ceremony, hitting the books in the classroom, and getting physical as they take on personal safety training, getting to grips with batons, captor spray and handcuffs.

Special Constable Sarah Johnson said: “Being filmed by the BBC initially appeared to be a daunting prospect but actually turned out to be a really positive and enjoyable experience.

“They started filming during the training process, family at home and the first few duties on patrol. The film crew was fantastic and I am looking forward to the programme.”

Assistant Chief Constable Janette McCormick said: “Being a Special Constable opens up a world of opportunity to gain skills and experiences, perhaps unlike any other walk of life.

“Our Specials are an integral part of the wider police family. Not only does their uniform presence reassure communities, but they bring vast experience from the range of professions with life skills.

“At a time when public confidence has been impacted in a very transparent way they bring the public into policing to build trust.”

To find out more about Cheshire′s Special Constabulary, a seminar is being held on Saturday May 17 at 12pm.

Places can be booked by visiting http://www.cheshire.police.uk/

“First Time on the Front Line” will begin airing on BBC One at 11.30am on weekdays from Monday 28 April.

(Pictured left to right: Beccy Purcell, Laurence Towers, Martin Toner, Sarah Johnson. Photo courtesy of the BBC)

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