§ Mr. RuffleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the strength was of the special constabulary in Suffolk in each year since 1997. [104815]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe information requested is set out in the table. The latest available figures are for March 2002, when there were 308 special constables in Suffolk constabulary. Figures for 31 March 2003 will be published in due course with other police personnel statistical data.
350W
Year (as at 31 March) Special constable strength in Suffolk 1997 379 1998 397 1999 420 2000 391 2001 349 2002 308 Source:
Home Office Research, Development and Statistical Group.
The National Policing Plan 2003–06 reaffirms our commitment to introducing measures to increase the numbers and effectiveness of the special constabulary. The National Specials Weekend which was held on 21–23 February provided an opportunity for forces to
encourage more recruits by raising the profile of the Special Constabulary and recognising the enormous contribution made by its members to local policing".The new specials website, which can be found at www.specialconstables.gov.uk, has been designed so that specials and their managers can keep abreast of developments and share good practice. Guidance on good practice in all aspects of specials' local recruitment, management and deployment is being produced by the Home Office with the Association of Chief Police Officers, and will be published on this site.
Additionally, we have introduced amendments to the Special Constabulary Regulations to allow police authorities to submit schemes, which they have agreed with the chief constable, for the payment of special constables. Such schemes will require the approval of the Secretary of State. Running a number of trial schemes will help establish to what extent payments to specials have a positive effect on their recruitment and retention and the number of hours they are able to offer their force. As announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 24 March, the first such scheme to be authorised is in Workington in Cumbria.