Special Constables (Hansard, 25 March 1991)

§ Mr. Patrick Thompson (Norwich, North)

I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make further provision with respect to the conditions of service of special constables; and for connected purposes. My Bill will amend the Special Constables Regulations 1965 and, if necessary, the Police Act 1964. I have been informed by Michael Hedges, the chief commandant of Norfolk special constabulary, that the current strength of specials in Norfolk is 280, out of an establishment figure of 411. That is an improvement on the 1980 figure, which was only 180. I should like to pay tribute to the special constables in Norfolk and the regular force, the Norfolk constabulary, with whom the specials have an excellent working relationship. I have been in touch with the Police Federation of England and Wales, and agree with it that the specials should not be a cheap alternative to a well equipped and professional regular police force. I would never support such an idea, and I am pleased to see my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) in his place, listening to the introduction of this ten-minute Bill.

There has been an improvement nationally in recruitment of specials, which I expect to accelerate following the current Home Office poster campaign. We all see the posters with the teaser question, When does an optician ever keep an eye on football supporters? as we drive around our constituencies. It is a good campaign, and I hope it succeeds in its recruitment of special constables.

However, there is an overwhelming case for further recognition and help for the specials. There were 24,000 special constables in 1974, but now there are only 15,500. That case has been powerfully made in the House by my hon. Friend the present Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy (Mr. Moynihan) and my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey), both of whom I am pleased to see in their places. They made their arguments effectively in Adjournment debates in 1986 and 1990. There is not time for me to repeat all their arguments in my short speech this afternoon.

If enacted, my Bill will provide the Home Secretary, the police authorities and chief constables with the necessary powers to achieve the following objectives quickly. First, it will speed up recruitment procedures for our special constables. Secondly, it will provide better equipment and protection for specials, who should be entitled to the best standards at present available to the regular police force. Thirdly, it will provide improved and extended training for special constables. The training programmes should be fully structured in future. Fourthly, we should aim for improved training of regular officers who are responsible for the supervision of special constables during their induction period and in their work. Fifthly, there should be fairer arrangements for sick pay and improved help for 612 those injured in the course of their duty, on a par with that available to regular officers and members of the police forces generally and nationally.

There should also be improved allowances for special constables and the provision of an annual bounty. I am aware of the experimental scheme that is currently being applied by the Home Office to metropolitan specials, but a national bounty should be payable as soon as possible. It should be payable after a minimum service of, say, two years, and its value should increase with longer service. Also, it is very important that any bounty must be new ring-fenced money and should not come out of the present police authority budget. After all, the bounty system has worked well in the Territorial Army. I served in the Territorial Army for six years, and I see no reason why such a system should not work well for special constables as well. There is no evidence that a bounty would result in a loss of prestige or of the voluntary spirit.

The ideal of voluntary service is part of our national life. We see it also in the St. John Ambulance and the Red Cross. We in Parliament have a duty to provide positive incentives so that suitable recruits will volunteer for service in all ways, and particularly for the special constables.

The changes in the law and regulations that will secure those objectives are essential. In future, we shall need increasing numbers of special constables who are prepared to take more responsibility, become more involved in crime prevention, and be fully accountable to the public. I hope that we shall thereby slow down or reverse the growth of vigilantes, Guardian Angels and less reputable security firms. That point was made by my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth in his Adjournment debate last October.

Total annual spending on the police at the moment is £4.5 billion, but on special constables it is less than £1 million. The Bill is intended to put in place the necessary powers to increase the numbers, improve the quality and enhance the effectiveness of specials. All that is needed is the political will. After all, the history of special constables can be traced right back to the voluntary peace officers established by the Statute of Winchester in 1285. By allowing me to introduce the Bill, the House will demonstrate strong support for special constables in every part of the country.