§ Mr. SwireTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many special constables there were in Devon and Cornwall constabulary in(a) 1992 and (b) 1997; and what the latest available figure is; [17274]
(2) how many special constables have left Devon and Cornwall Constabulary since 1997; how many have been recruited since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [17275]
§ Mr. DenhamSince 1997, 752 special constables have been recruited to Devon and Cornwall constabulary and 859 have left.
Annual strength figures for the specified years are set out in the table:
Strength December 1992 946 March 1997 1,148 March 2001 804 Source:
Figures for December 1992 provided by HMIC. Figures for March 1997 and 2001 provided by RDS.
Home Office-funded research into the premature wastage of special constables, completed last year, found that the primary reasons for leaving were often external to the service. However, the research identified some underlying management factors contributing to the decision to resign.
Recommendations aimed at reducing the wastage included making improvements to: the management structure within which specials operate; the quality of training provided locally; the flexibility of duties and hours offered and to local efforts to monitor and prevent wastage.
The Government are committed to increasing the special constabulary and as part of the police reform process we are looking at radical improvements in the management, welfare and deployment of special constables.
863W