PCC’s Specials plan branded a “publicity stunt”

PLANS by the new Essex Police and Crime Commissioner to put a Special Constable in every parish in the county have been branded a “publicity stunt” by the local Federation branch.

Roger Hirst (pictured), who became the Essex PCC in May, has said he wants to double the number of special constables from 300 to 600.

Essex Police Federation Chairman Mark Smith said this is a “good idea”, but has warned that the extra resources need to be deployed in the correct way.

According to Mr Smith, the PCC is considering spending up to £1 million on the new recruits.

“My concern is that’s £1 million not well spent if these Specials are going to be kept in parishes, where there may well be very, very little crime. It isn’t going to alleviate any pressure or workload from frontline officers,” he said.

“We have had to pull officers away from these rural areas for a reason, because it was a bad use of resources with the money we had.”

Mr Smith said he would much rather see the Special Constables deployed to assist full-time officers on the front line, offering protection for those who would otherwise be single-crewed.

“It’s a political stunt to say: ‘Look we’ve got more police officers back in local areas and communities again.’ The public, of course, want to see police officers walking the beat again, they want to see them on every corner,” said Mr Smith. “But that isn’t reality. We need to measure expectations and tell the public the truth – that it’s a bad use of resources.”

Mr Smith said that community support officers (PCSOs) would be better suited to working in local parishes, getting to know communities and gathering intelligence.

Special Constables, on the other hand, are fully warranted police officers, with all the powers, training and personal protective equipment that come with being a full-time officer, so they should be on the front line, he said.

The Chairman added that there were “inherent problems” with placing Special Constables in rural villages. “Where are they going to work from after the sale of police stations? We haven’t got buildings,” he said. “How are they going to move around? We haven’t got vehicles for them. Where are they going to keep their CS gas, because it has to be locked away in a police building?”

Roger Hirst, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “Most people who join the Essex Police Special Constabulary do so from a desire to enhance the quality of life in their communities and from a deep sense of public service. We should celebrate such community spirit.

“From conversations I have had across our county, I am confident that there are many public-spirited people who are keen to join the Essex Police Special Constabulary.  I have spoken with serving and former Specials who expressed their pride in playing their part in helping keep their communities safe.

“As recently as December 2010, there were 663 Specials in Essex, so I see no reason why we cannot increase the number up from the present 350 or so officers.  Essex Police has been good at recruiting and training Specials but there has also been a high turnover, with a similar number of people leaving as joining in recent years.

“It is for Essex Police Chief Officers to determine where and how to deploy the Special Constabulary. For me the key is ensuring that the enthusiasm and community spirit of Special Constables is used to the full by Essex Police.”

Mr Smith said he would be raising his concerns with the PCC at the beginning of September, when they have a meeting scheduled.