The Conservative Candidate to be Devon and Cornwall’s first Police and Crime Commissioner, Tony Hogg, has praised the work of the force’s Special Constables and will look to recruit at least 200 more if he is elected on the 15th November. He has also pledged to increase the incentives on offer, calling for Devon and Cornwall to follow the example of the force in Hull, where Specials are offered a discount on their Council Tax bills.
Devon and Cornwall Police currently have around 600 Special Constables who have all the powers of full-time officers and serve for a minimum of 16 hours a month. They receive an subsistence allowance of £9.61 a shift whereas Specials in various other force areas receive significantly greater incentives, including discount on their council tax (Hull), and free travel on public transport (Metropolitan Police).
Former Naval Commander, Tony Hogg, said, “Special Constables are good for the community and good for the Police force and we need to value the great contribution they make. I would like to see many more Special Constables serving in Devon and Cornwall and would seek to improve the incentives for joining such as securing discounts from their council tax bills.
“In such a large force area Specials can play a big part in increasing visible policing. The incentives at the moment can amount to less than £20 a month but, if elected, I will seek to increase this and learn from other forces to offer the sort of deal, such as a council tax discount, that truly reflects the fantastic commitment these officers give.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
- Special constables (SCs) perform operational duties, working closely with regular officers and undertaking similar roles. They are not paid for their time but have agreed expenses or allowances. The SC role is to support regular colleagues not to replace them or to ‘plug gaps’. This force is currently developing rural engagement roles for SCs in line with the rural policing strategy to engage with rural communities and tackle rural crime. Devon and Cornwall also have a small number of SCs who have enhanced driving skills to support regular colleagues on our road networks. Ordinarily SCs work in uniform, but occasionally there are specific operations where there may be a requirement to utilise their skills out of uniform.
- Specials are issued with the same equipment and a similar uniform as regular officers and have equal powers. In return for their commitment - a minimum of 16 hours per month - special constables receive training and support to enable them to carry out their role effectively.
- There are currently 586 special constables in the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.
- SCs in Devon and Cornwall force can claim mileage, subsistence allowance and out of pocket expenses for any travel to and from duty or training, for duty hours or other expenses.