DURING the Second World War the regular police force, faced with greatly increased responsibilities, was reinforced by a full-time police war reserve and a part-time special constabulary.
As this group of local "specials" illustrates, men who were no longer young volunteered for service, patrolling in all weathers and taking turns at night duty. Wartime winters tended to be harsh.
In the autumn of 1940, Keighley Town Council contributed the opening donation to an appeal for funds to provide winter equipment and "some measure of comfort" for special constables of the Keighley Division.
Special Constable Alexander Keighley recorded a typical nocturnal routine: "Friday, February 12. Patrol duty, 9pm. Reported at Kiosk Devonshire Street, 9.17. Buffer Depot Kings Mill. Went inside OK, 9.40. Buffer Depot Russell Street10pm. Key Point Spencer Street 11pm. Devonshire Street, Kiosk..."
The buffer depots were emergency food stores.
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