§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to extend police disability entitlements to special constables injured while carrying out their duties; [65497]
(2) how many special constables in the Metropolitan Police area were forced to retire from police work due to disability resulting from injuries sustained in the line of duty in each of the last five years; [65496]
332W(3) what representations he has received regarding the provision of disability pensions and entitlements for former special constables forced to retire from police work due to injuries sustained in the line of duty. [65498]
§ Mr. BoatengArrangements to compensate special constables who are injured on duty are contained in the Special Constables Regulations. The 1995–96 Special Constabulary Working Group reviewed these arrangements and recommended a number of improvements. Proposals for new regulations were circulated to the police staff associations, the Association of Police Authorities and the special constabularies in December 1997. As a result, representations were received from:
- Association of Chief Police Officers
- Police Superintendents' Association
- Police Federation
- Association of Police Authorities
- Bedfordshire Police
- Cleveland Police
- Derbyshire Constabulary
- Special Constabulary Conferences of the North West, North East and Midlands Regions
- Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
New regulations are currently being drafted and will shortly be copied to the relevant bodies for any final comments. We expect the new regulations to come into force on 1 July 1999.
In the last five years, only two special constables retired from the Metropolitan Special Constabulary as a result of disabling injuries sustained on duty. One in 1993–94 and the other in 1994–95.
Copies of the Working Group's report and the consultation paper of December 1997 have been placed in the Library.