Sussex police is losing special constables twice as fast as it can recruit them, new figures have revealed.

Last year, the force managed to attract only 27 new volunteer officers despite a Government recruitment campaign.

At the same time, 58 specials opted to hand back their uniforms.

The slump continues a reverse in force numbers which began five years ago.

In 1997, the year Labour came to power, 76 officers were recruited as 116 quit.

Twelve months later 105 joined, with 134 departing. In 1999, only 55 officers signed up as 83 quit. A year later, 27 joined and 58 quit.

Home Office statistics show the total number of specials is now down to only 301 - 171 fewer than September 1997.

Home Secretary David Blunkett is determined to halt the decline, which has seen numbers fall nationally from 19,163 in 1997 to 12,068 last year.

He is considering allowing forces to pay specials as part of a wider shake-up of police practices.

This could take the form of a new allowance - paid in return for officers signing up to an agreed "minimum commitment" to the job.

Over the last two years, the Home Office has advertised on local radio and in local newspapers in a bid to boost recruitment.

The adverts stressed that special constables had a vital role to play in the fight against crime by strengthening relations between police and local communities It also claimed volunteers could boost their careers, because they gained skills in organisation and communication that were applauded by employers.

A Home Office spokeswoman told the Argus: "We recognise that special constables are leaving because of other commitments, although some are leaving to become full-time police officers.

"We realise we need to get those numbers back up. That's why we are looking at the possibility of rewarding specials for their services."

The Tories have blamed the slump on an increase in "red tape", which they claim is forcing volunteers to quit.