The number of special constables serving with Sussex Police has more than halved in eight years.

Despite Government efforts to boost recruitment to the force's special constabulary, its membership has not risen for a decade.

Figures released to Parliament by the Home Office show there were just 181 specials assisting Sussex Police last year, down from a highpoint of 511 in 1996.

The decline came alongside a rise in the number of police officers and the introduction of 149 community support officers.

But a proposed new network of neighbourhood policing teams for every community is expected to rely on the support of special constables - who draw only minimal costs from the police budget.

The Home Office said that the decline was partly due to the growth in police numbers as many specials had become full-time officers.

Police minister Hazel Blears said: "Research suggests that the main reason for the fall in numbers is external commitments, with ineffective management and deployment also contributing."

Specials are unpaid volunteers but they have the same powers of arrest as police officers and wear a similar uniform.

They carry out foot patrols, help to deal with antisocial behaviour, work in schools and provide security at events. They also deal with fights, fires and road accidents.

Ms Blears said that officials were exploring with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) ways to retain specials more effectively.

She added: "The Government are working with stakeholders, particularly ACPO, on a range of measures to improve specials' recruitment, management and deployment.

"This includes the implementation of Home Office/ACPO Good Practice Guidance designed to help forces attract and hold on to specials, ensuring their time and skills are properly valued and used to best effect.

"A survey of forces recently conducted by ACPO reveals that, at 31 January 2005, the number of specials had increased to 12,100, with a further 2,500 applications in the system."

The number of Sussex Police officers has risen since 2002, when the data was first compiled by the Home Office, from 2,978 to 3,125 in 2004.

Special Constabulary liaison officer Inspector Jane Derrick said that, despite the decline over eight years, the number of specials recruited had risen four-fold over the last year.

She said: "The difference between the specials and police community support officers is that they are warranted police officers who are trained to the same level as regular police office and have the same powers.

"They don't just cover fairs and fetes anymore, they on the front line."