The Mayor of London Boris Johnson today called on Londoners to boost the numbers of Met Police Special Constables to 10,000 by 2012 to help make the capital’s streets safer.
More than 700 Specials have already been recruited in the last year and the Mayor would like to see many more joining the Met Police. With the 2012 Olympic Games just around the corner, there are even more opportunities for Specials to get involved in policing London and be part of the amazing spectacle the Games will create throughout the city.
The Mayor has agreed £32 million of funding from the MPA and Policing Minister Vernon Coaker for the recruitment of 10,000 Specials by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games.
Specials can get the support of their employers, through the Employer Supported Policing Specials scheme, with paid leave for training and police patrols. Having a trained police officer on the payroll can also be a great bonus for employers.
Specials have the same powers as regular officers, wear the same uniform and get involved in all the day-to-day policing issues in the capital. The only difference is that Specials are unpaid volunteers who give up their time - eight hours every fortnight– to help others and make a real difference to life in London.
The Met Police have launched a major advertising campaign, ’Last night a DJ saved My Life’, to encourage Londoners to join the Specials.
Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London said:
‘Specials do a fantastic job and I am full of admiration for these wonderful people who give their time freely to help the Met make London a safer city for us all. I’d encourage all Londoners who have a hankering to do something different or want to help their local community to train as a Special. I’d like to see a massive increase in numbers to 10,000 Specials patrolling the capital’s streets by the Olympic Games in 2012, and I am pleased that the Government is providing funding to make this a reality.’
Tim Godwin, Acting Deputy Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police Service said:
‘The Met has long valued the immense contribution and breadth of experience that Specials bring to policing in London. MPS Specials come from a variety of backgrounds- from Accountants to Graphic Designers, from health workers to retail employees. Not only do these skills mean that people with diverse experience are contributing to policing, people employed in other sectors can contribute directly to the safety and security of their community.’
Home Office Policing Minister Vernon Coaker said:
‘I am delighted to pledge such a significant proportion of the funding for the recruitment of 10,000 new Metropolitan Police Special Constables by 2012.
‘Special Constables are a vital part of our modern police service and today’s funding will enhance policing across London and provide additional resource to ensure a safe and secure 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This builds on my commitment earlier this year to fund a further 6000 Special Constables across England and Wales by 2010.
‘Every day of the week, Specials are making a real difference — responding to people's concerns and making communities safer places to live.’
The Mayor was speaking at the launch of a new transport policing team in Harrow. He pledged to increase the police presence around transport interchanges to make Londoners feel safer and launched trials of the teams shortly after his election last year.
Jointly funded by Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) the nine-strong team is the 12th to be rolled out and is part of the Mayor’s commitment to increasing the policing of transport hubs all over the capital.
The team of officers will work closely with the existing Town Centre Police Team, Safer Neighbourhood Teams, British Transport Police, Safer School Officers and local transport staff.
Harrow Council leader David Ashton said:
‘One of our top priorities is to deliver safer streets for our residents. In the town centre, that means cracking down on anti social behaviour, pick pocketing and irritants like sellers of pirate DVDs.
‘The town centre force we help pay for is paying real dividends with a sharp drop in these offences. We're confident the new Hub team, based around the station, will ensure that the gateway to our town centre is friendly, safe and inviting.’
Steve Burton, Director of Community Safety Enforcement and Policing at TfL said:
‘While crime levels are low on our transport network, we know there is always more that can be done, which is why the new team in Harrow has been introduced and will work closely with the other TfL funded transport policing teams in the borough. The thousands of police and community support officers on and around our transport system have already made a clear difference and we have no doubt that this policing boost in Harrow on the Hill will act as a deterrent to those who intend to commit crimes in the area as well as helping to make people feel safer and more secure.’
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