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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Funds for more special constables | Funds for more special constables |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| An extra 6,000 special police constables are to be recruited with £2.25m government funding. | An extra 6,000 special police constables are to be recruited with £2.25m government funding. |
| The boost will take the total number of special police in England and Wales to 20,000 over the next three years. | The boost will take the total number of special police in England and Wales to 20,000 over the next three years. |
| The constables are volunteers who serve alongside police officers on the streets of local communities. | The constables are volunteers who serve alongside police officers on the streets of local communities. |
| The Home Office said the money would be used to assist initiatives involving the recruitment, training and development of special constables. | The Home Office said the money would be used to assist initiatives involving the recruitment, training and development of special constables. |
| 'Real difference' | 'Real difference' |
| The money was announced as Home Secretary Jacqui Smith visited special constables in Tooting, south London. | The money was announced as Home Secretary Jacqui Smith visited special constables in Tooting, south London. |
| Ms Smith said: "Every day of the week, specials are making a real difference - responding to people's concerns and making communities safer places to live. | Ms Smith said: "Every day of the week, specials are making a real difference - responding to people's concerns and making communities safer places to live. |
| "The funding I am announcing today will ensure that the special constabulary can grow and continue their outstanding work." | "The funding I am announcing today will ensure that the special constabulary can grow and continue their outstanding work." |
| A spokeswoman from the Police Federation of England and Wales said it had always been supportive of the special constabulary. | A spokeswoman from the Police Federation of England and Wales said it had always been supportive of the special constabulary. |
| SPECIAL CONSTABLES Volunteer minimum of four hours a weekSame powers as regular officersSimilar uniformLearn new skills and experiencesConduct patrols and police major incidents | SPECIAL CONSTABLES Volunteer minimum of four hours a weekSame powers as regular officersSimilar uniformLearn new skills and experiencesConduct patrols and police major incidents |
| "But there is concern that there was a costly campaign a few years back that produced very little - only five or six recruited. | "But there is concern that there was a costly campaign a few years back that produced very little - only five or six recruited. |
| "So from a federation point of view, it's important that the government learn the lessons of previous campaigns on recruitment." | "So from a federation point of view, it's important that the government learn the lessons of previous campaigns on recruitment." |
| Ms Smith spoke to specials inside a mosque in Tooting. | Ms Smith spoke to specials inside a mosque in Tooting. |
| Veteran special Insp Farhad Ahmed, known as Fred, said he liked the job satisfaction he got from his role. | Veteran special Insp Farhad Ahmed, known as Fred, said he liked the job satisfaction he got from his role. |
| "Policing is about building up a rapport and links with the local community, so it's about meeting nice people as well, often the victims of crime." | "Policing is about building up a rapport and links with the local community, so it's about meeting nice people as well, often the victims of crime." |
| Asked if the money could not have gone on "real" police, Ms Smith said: "We've seen more specials, more police community support officers, and more police officers as well. This is not about either/or, its about building the policing family." | Asked if the money could not have gone on "real" police, Ms Smith said: "We've seen more specials, more police community support officers, and more police officers as well. This is not about either/or, its about building the policing family." |
| Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said the move was to be welcomed but would only restore numbers to levels when Labour took office. | Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said the move was to be welcomed but would only restore numbers to levels when Labour took office. |
| He said: "In the meantime the officers we do have are being funded by increases in council tax precept and spend just 14% of their time on the beat. | He said: "In the meantime the officers we do have are being funded by increases in council tax precept and spend just 14% of their time on the beat. |
| "Labour's mismanagement means the public are not only paying more for policing, but seeing fewer officers on the streets fighting crime." | "Labour's mismanagement means the public are not only paying more for policing, but seeing fewer officers on the streets fighting crime." |
| Northern Ireland has 825 "part-time" officers who are paid a retainer to work four to eight hours a week in their communities. | |
| There are 1,513 special constables across Scotland. | |
| Special constables have the full powers of a police constable, including the power of arrest. | Special constables have the full powers of a police constable, including the power of arrest. |