§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there are in England and Wales; and how many there were on 1 May 1997. [49023]
§ Mr. DenhamThe number of serving special constables in England and Wales on 31 September 2001 was 12,068. In March 1997 there were 19,874 serving special constables.
The Government are committed to increasing the size of the special constabulary. Measures to achieve this would include improvements to the recruitment, training, conditions, management and deployment of specials-focusing their role on intelligence-led, high visibility patrolling and local crime reduction initiatives. In January 2002 we ran a press campaign targeting specials as part of the national recruitment campaign for the regular Police Service.
§ Mr. Liddell-Graingero ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of civilians to fulfil policing tasks. [49024]
§ Mr. DenhamThe use of civilian support staff in the police service is not a new concept. Support staff carry out a variety of administrative roles in police stations, and in headquarters units, in order to lighten the bureaucratic load on police officers.
The Police Reform Bill contains provisions which will develop these roles further, allowing limited powers to be extended to police employed support staff who will work in four areas as investigating officers, escort officers, detention officers or community support officers (CSOs).
These support staff will be employed by the police authority and will be under the direction and control of the chief officer. He or she will be responsible for deciding which of the limited powers currently provided for in the Bill they will be allowed to exercise.