Metropolitan Special Constabulary (Hansard, 30 April 1987)

§ Lord Orr-Ewing
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will list the total number of special constabulary in the Metropolitan Police in each of the last 10 years and explain why their numbers have fallen.

The Minister of State, Home Office (The Earl of Caithness)
My Lords, the strength of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary was 1,490 on 14th April this year compared with 2,017 at the end of 1977. I shall, with permission, place a table containing the full information requested by my noble friend in the Library of the House.
The reasons for the fall in strength almost certainly include the reduction in the normal age of retirement from 60 to 55 and the policy of not retaining special constables who cease to be active. Both my right honourable friend the Secretary of State and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis are keen that the number of special constables should be increased.

§ Lord Orr-Ewing
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that reply. However, does he not think it strange that while the strength of the Territorials in London has steadily risen—and they give a great deal of their time during the week, on weekend evenings and during weekends—the strength of the Specials has fallen markedly? That is true at a time when the regular police force has expanded immensely in London. Is it not a fact that the Specials play a very valuable part in building a bridge of understanding, which is so essential, between police and local communities? Should they not be encouraged in every conceivable way?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, my noble friend is absolutely right. The Specials do an excellent job and they are encouraged. I am grateful for the tribute which has been paid to them and on behalf of the Government I should like to join in thanking them for their work.

§ Lord Mellish
My Lords, that really is not good enough. To say all those nice things and then do nothing is insulting to this House and to the noble Lord who has asked the Question. What are the police doing to recruit more Specials? I have not read or seen anything in the London area asking people to come forward. I am sure that there are hundreds of decent people who would back up the police in this most difficult time. It is about time that we had more than platitudes from the Minister.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, as the House will be aware, there has been no greater commitment to the police force than there has been in the seven years since this Government took over in a situation of ridiculously low manning.

§ Lord Mellish
But I am speaking of Specials.

The Earl of Caithness
We are giving equal effort to recruiting Specials by means of posters, advertisements in the local press and displays in public places. A new recruitment video is also nearing completion.

§ Viscount Slim
My Lords, is it not a fact that with regard to recruitment of Specials careful consideration should be given to recompense and to terms and conditions? It is a voluntary force and I think that some expenses or something of that kind would be well deserved and should be considered.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, those matters were looked at most recently in 1981 by a working party on the Police Advisory Board. However, I shall draw the points which the noble Lord has made to the attention of my right honourable friend.

§ Lord Orr-Ewing
My Lords, will my noble friend bear in mind that when his right honourable friend the Home Secretary takes this matter up he should also consider whether the Specials are receiving encouraging and challenging work worthy of a volunteer force of this sort and that they are not being discouraged by being given dull and uninspiring work? Everyone in every part of the House would like to see recruitment stepped up. Perhaps my noble friend can report that this House is united today on that issue.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I shall certainly put those words to my right honourable friend. However, I can tell my noble friend that I believe that the work is sufficiently challenging. One of the things which we have noted is that an increasing number of Specials who resign as Specials go on to join the police force. Therefore, the police force actually benefits although the Specials may lose a few members.