Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the monthly 16-hour expectation for special constables on the number applications for special constable roles.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Special constables are recruited locally by all 43 forces in England and Wales. The minimum number of hours a special constable is required to do is set locally at the discretion of Chief Officers.
The Home Office Employer Supported Policing scheme is a partnership between employers and the police service aimed at encouraging employers to enable their staff to volunteer as special constables in the communities they serve. The Home Office will continue to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Citizens in Policing Programme and the College of Policing to support the development of a national approach to the attraction and training of special constables.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with Essex Police on introducing community special constables in Essex.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Home Secretary and I have regular bilateral meetings with the Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), the body which is responsible for the Citizens in Policing Programme, as well as the College of Policing, which supports the programme and is responsible for special constables and police volunteers at a national level.
The National Strategy for the Special Constabulary (2018-2023) details the NPCC's committment to making better use of special constables, for the benefit of forces, communities and individual volunteers.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential (a) merits of increasing the number of special constables and (b) effect of such an increase on levels of crime.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Special constables bring diverse and valuable skills to police forces that strengthen policing and help forces to develop important links with communities. Recruitment and eligibility criteria of special constables are set locally at the discretion of Chief Officers.
The Home Office Employer Supported Policing (ESP) scheme is a partnership between employers and the police service aimed at encouraging employers to enable their staff to volunteer as special constables in the communities they serve. The Home Office will continue to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Citizens in Policing Programme and the College of Policing to support the development of a national approach to the attraction and training of special constables.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the application process to increase the number of special constables.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Special constables bring diverse and valuable skills to police forces that strengthen policing and help forces to develop important links with communities. Recruitment and eligibility criteria of special constables are set locally at the discretion of Chief Officers.
The Home Office Employer Supported Policing (ESP) scheme is a partnership between employers and the police service aimed at encouraging employers to enable their staff to volunteer as special constables in the communities they serve. The Home Office will continue to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Citizens in Policing Programme and the College of Policing to support the development of a national approach to the attraction and training of special constables.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on increasing the number of special constables in England.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Special constables bring diverse and valuable skills to police forces that strengthen policing and help forces to develop important links with communities. Recruitment and eligibility criteria of special constables are set locally at the discretion of Chief Officers.
The Home Office Employer Supported Policing (ESP) scheme is a partnership between employers and the police service aimed at encouraging employers to enable their staff to volunteer as special constables in the communities they serve. The Home Office will continue to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Citizens in Policing Programme and the College of Policing to support the development of a national approach to the attraction and training of special constables.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she plans to take to increase the number of special constables.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Special constables bring diverse and valuable skills to police forces that strengthen policing and help forces to develop important links with communities. Recruitment and eligibility criteria of special constables are set locally at the discretion of Chief Officers.
The Home Office Employer Supported Policing (ESP) scheme is a partnership between employers and the police service aimed at encouraging employers to enable their staff to volunteer as special constables in the communities they serve. The Home Office will continue to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Citizens in Policing Programme and the College of Policing to support the development of a national approach to the attraction and training of special constables.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on improving educational opportunities for special constables.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
We continue to work closely with National Policing leads to ensure consistency across forces in order to strengthen the national approach to special constables, including their development.
It is the responsibility of individual police forces to ensure that special constables receive the training required to carry out the role and decisions on how to train Special constables are taken locally by the Chief Constable.
The College of Policing provides bespoke training programmes for special constables as well as national guidance on police standards, including training, which forces can access.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of using online education for training special constables.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
We continue to work closely with National Policing leads to ensure consistency across forces in order to strengthen the national approach to special constables, including their development.
It is the responsibility of individual police forces to ensure that special constables receive the training required to carry out the role and decisions on how to train Special constables are taken locally by the Chief Constable.
The College of Policing provides bespoke training programmes for special constables as well as national guidance on police standards, including training, which forces can access.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of online modules in the teaching of the Special Constabulary curriculum.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
We continue to work closely with National Policing leads to ensure consistency across forces in order to strengthen the national approach to special constables, including their development.
It is the responsibility of individual police forces to ensure that special constables receive the training required to carry out the role and decisions on how to train Special constables are taken locally by the Chief Constable.
The College of Policing provides bespoke training programmes for special constables as well as national guidance on police standards, including training, which forces can access.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of special constables being paid.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Special constables are not paid for their duties but receive out-of-pocket expenses and forces may work with local partners to provide discretionary benefits such as free local travel or council tax rebates.
Many special constables, like volunteers in other parts of society, are not motivated by financial reward.
It is important that we recognise the contribution of special constables and we continue to work with policing partners to ensure they feel valued and supported.