Archived decisions

SPECIAL CONSTABULARY

1. The Authority has received a report from the Chief Constable on the latest developments in relation to the Special Constabulary in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

2. The Authority acknowledged the enormous contribution that the Special Constabulary makes to Hampshire Constabulary which, in turn, provides great reassurance to our communities.

3. There are currently 345 members of the Special Constabulary distributed across 10 Basic Command Units and the Chief Constable expects that the number of recruits will rise during the next year. At present, most of the Special Constabulary operates as a "Bolt-On" resource for the regular Force with a command structure and management system that is designed to operate from specified police stations. Although the situation is changing within the cities, elsewhere, many Specials are allied two shifts or beats on an ad hoc basis, resulting in different policing models and practices across the two counties.

4. Some of the roles performed are still referred to by titles that do not reflect the change of nomenclature from Division to Basic Command Units (BCU) that has taken place within the Force. Therefore, a new rank structure and role titles have been introduced as follows:-

Insignia 1 Force Specials Officer
4 bars 3 Bars
1 Deputy Force Specials Officer
2 Bars 10 BCU Officers, 1 per BCU

1 bar with no. 1 Sector Officer per Sector

Number only Special Constables

5. To ensure regular Force liaison, it has been agreed that each BCU should maintain a Specials Liaison Officer to ensure that best practice is being followed and to measure performance. They will be required to keep in close contact with all Sector Inspectors, as well as addressing retention and recruiting issues.

6. Special Constables still offer their services on a voluntary basis and, in recognition of the importance of the role that they play in supporting the work of the Force, the Authority has given its full backing to a review of the potential to pay Special Constables. This will be considered by the ACPO Group and the Authority later in the year.

4IR240904