§ 59. Mr. Moynihanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the role of special constables.
§ Mr. Giles ShawWe see an important role for the special constabulary as a trained body of reserves to assist the regular police at times of unusual pressure and as a practical link between the police and the public. We shall continue to encourage chief officers to recruit as many special constables as they can usefully train and deploy for various tasks, including crime prevention. Last year there was a further modest increase in the number of special constables in England and Wales bringing the total to 16,186 at 31 December 1985.