This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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More Special Constables to be recruited
31/01/2005
The Executive is to invest £2m to introduce payments for
Special Constables and increase the numbers involved in
supporting regular police officers in the fight against
crime.
The funding - £1m in each of 2006-7 and 2007-8 - will
enable forces to pay Special Constables, who are currently
unpaid volunteers, £1,000 a year provided they agree to
undertake 50 four-hour duties during those 12 months.
The move aims to boost the number of new recruits to the
Special Constabulary and encourage existing officers to
increase their time commitment and help towards the
Executive's commitment to work with Chief Constables to
increase the number of specials across Scotland by 500.
It follows the success of an Executive-funded pilot
payment scheme in Grampian, in which the number of specials
increased by nearly 40 per cent during the first nine
months.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"Special Constables play a valuable role in supporting
full-time police officers in the fight against crime.
"They increase the flexibility of each force to deal
with local initiatives, problems and events, and with
officers coming from all walks of life, provide a vital
link between the police and the communities they serve.
"While they previously received some expenses, until now
they have been unpaid, with their only reward being the
knowledge that they are doing something positive for their
local community.
"Now I want to ensure we do something positive for them,
in recognition of the role they play in creating a safer,
stronger Scotland.
"Following a successful pilot scheme in Grampian, I am
today announcing £2 million in funding to enable forces
throughout the country to introduce similar schemes.
"This will encourage more people with an interest in
helping their local community, or in police work, and who
have some time to spare, to join the Special Constabulary.
It will also encourage existing Special Constables to
commit to a minimum number of shifts each year.
"This is not a question of investing in the volunteer
force at the expense of the regular service.
"There are now record numbers of police officers in
Scotland, and in October we announced a 17 per cent in
police grant-aided expenditure, one of the key sources of
police force funding, over the next three years, taking it
to almost £1.1 billion by 2007-08.
"However, what today's announcement will do is increase
the flexibility of the regular force to deal with specific
operational requirements, and improve their service to
local communities."
Deputy Chief Constable Pat Shearer of Grampian Police,
the ACPOS lead representative on the Special Constabulary,
said:
"We are delighted that the Scottish Executive is
supporting us in our drive to boost the Special
Constabulary, both in terms of valuing the contribution
that they make and in funding this scheme.
"Within Grampian it was found that the reward scheme
helped to significantly increase numbers of Special
Constables. It is our hope that this picture will now be
replicated across Scotland.
"You cannot underestimate the job that Special
Constables do. Their contribution to making Scotland safer
is invaluable and this funding will allow us to attract and
retain quality officers who have the interests of their
communities at heart."
Special Constables are volunteers who receive training
from their local police force to work with and provide
support to regular officers.
They have the full powers of a Constable, wear the same
uniform and carry the same equipment.
Their role varies from force to force, but can include
taking part in local, intelligence-based patrols and crime
reduction initiatives, targeted at addressing specific
problems.
They may also be asked to support officers in policing
major incidents and events, and in providing other
operational support to regular officers, based on their own
skills or knowledge of the local area. They usually do
their minimum four hours a week in a single shift but
working hours are flexible.
The number of specials has fallen steadily in recent
years, as fewer people have been prepared to give up their
free time to volunteer.
The total number, at end of December 2004, was
1,117.
In April 2004, two pilot schemes were launched in
Grampian and Tayside to try and increase the number of
specials in those areas.
Since then, Grampian has seen a significant increase in
numbers, from 101 to 139, with at least 40 per cent more
applications coming into the force in the first three
months, compared to the previous period. Duty hours have
also increased by up to 100 per cent per officer.
Tayside chose to run the initiative to help retention
and did not run recruitment intakes until well into the
pilot. Officer numbers stayed relatively stable but duty
hours per officer increased by around 20 per cent.
It will be for individual Chief Constables to introduce
payment schemes in their area and these will be subject to
Ministerial approval.