THE police want to recruit an extra 660 special constables for Greater Manchester.
At the moment, 340 so-called 'hobby bobbies' volunteer for the force but Chief Constable Peter Fahy is considering bringing the number up to 1,000, the M.E.N. can reveal.
The force says specials are incredibly cost-effective. But some regular officers fear it would be policing on the cheap.
It would cost the force about £900,000 a year to recruit, train and maintain a force of 1,000 special constables, who each work a minimum of four hours every week on top of their regular jobs. The same money would pay the wages of about 40 full-time officers on a basic annual wage of £22,000, not including the cost of training.
One GMP officer said: "It's just not a cost-effective use of public money in the middle of a recession. The money would be better spent on full-time officers.
"You can't justify spending nearly £1m a year on specials who only work four hours each week when the same money would buy you plenty of regular officers who work a full week. It doesn't make financial sense.
"Specials are limited in what they can do. They used to be looked down upon but they are accepted now. But, obviously, they are not as experienced as regular officers by virtue of the fact they are part time."
But one senior GMP officer said: "It's not policing on the cheap. They are incredibly enthusiastic. They want to learn. And they give us another string to our bow."
Chief Supt Jon Rush said the force was looking into the feasibility of such a large increase and would make a decision in the autumn.
He said: "In the meantime we are still recruiting people to the special constabulary in the normal way.
"The special constabulary provides opportunities for people who want to be of service to the people of Greater Manchester and help to make their communities safer.
"They are trained to the same high standards as officers who are paid for their time.
"These volunteers support the regular force and will not be replacing the role of any paid officer."
He said special constables also 'provide a vital link to the heart of our communities'.
Specials work alongside full time police and have all the powers of regular officers. They get expenses but no wage.
For more information go to gmp.police.uk
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GMP drive for more specials
July 30, 2009
Showing comments 1 to 18 and replies | View All
Dave (30/07/2009 at 08:39)
dessie, manchester (30/07/2009 at 09:06)
john davis, Broughton, Salford (30/07/2009 at 09:20)
Broken Arrow (30/07/2009 at 09:23)
"You can't justify spending nearly £1m a year on specials who only work four hours each week" - Not sure which GMP Officer was interviewed about this but I would advise next time that you find one who actually knows a bit about Specials. If you bothered to research into this, you will find that most Specials work well in excess of this.
Forward with Franny (30/07/2009 at 09:35)
There was that big focus on hate crime yesterday. Well if I see somebody calling somebody a name, maybe shouting 'baldy' or 'old codger' or indeed shouting a racist word well to me they are all as bad as each other as they are verbally abusing and terrifying somebody. If I see a white man punch and white man or a white man punch a black man well it is all the same to me, the thug should be arrested. As an individual I am not concerned aboiut clour but some people are obsessed with it and it is pointed out to you where as normally we wouldn't think about it. That is counter productive.
On council forms I am asked what colour I am, what my sexual orientation is? Why are they trying to categorise? If I asked that on a job application form I would be called racist and homophobic because colur and orientation should matter as we are supposed to be equal.
Sorry about the rant, slightly off topic, but this is what the police are obsessed with over the basics.
As for the PSO's I went to a large police station and the desk it was manned by a PSO. Scuffy greasy hair outdated perm, stunk of fags, uniform about four sixes too big and didn't know a thing. It was like a charcter from Shameless. Report a crime in the USA and you are dealt with almost as a 'customer' and it is very effiecient. Over here, well, what can you say?
Forward with Franny (30/07/2009 at 09:41)
It is worrying that most of the public have zero confidence in the police. It is not that they don't want to support the police but just fact that for whatever reasons it is low.
The public don't want pso's, they don't want millions being wasted on text campaigns, or £10m on a 'force vision' campaign. Just make out streets safer. We have the highest incidence of burglary by a long stretch in the city so psend the £10m on proper bobbies on the beat, not with an advertising agency.
Just because it is a negative story it isn't just police bashing. Was the expenses scandal just MP bashing or was it something the public needed to know about?
chris (30/07/2009 at 09:59)
stand up and be counted or continue hiding behind your keyboards...the choice is yours.
personally, once my kids are a little older I'll be happy to spend 4hrs a week working along side our officers.
If I want my children to grow up in a safe environment then I have to take responsibility and do something about the things I think are wrong.
Mark,Radcliffe. (30/07/2009 at 10:13)
Theowolfe (30/07/2009 at 10:20)
It is called debate Chris, its the type of thing that happens in a democratic society. And debate is an 'act' not something theoretical or abstract.
Barney Gumball LLB Hons (30/07/2009 at 10:50)
Leyton (30/07/2009 at 11:42)
If I don't like something I go through the proper process as instructed. I can't become a Special Constable as I wouldn't pass the fitness requirements. From what you suggest then I am not able to have an opinion based on experience unless I become a Special Constable and help sort out the problem at root cause.
It is typical of this country in the if somebody's opinion is different to that of the authorities then your opinion is squashed, just like in Burma.
chris (30/07/2009 at 12:31)
I say it's time for people to step up as joining the specials is something a lot of people could actually do and genuinely make a difference.
People really have to take responsibility for the areas they live and work in, I don't see the point in complaining about things if your not willing to help change things.
Everyone in a community need to take a little responsibility for what goes on in that community.....if your not part of the solution then your part of the problem.
Leyton (30/07/2009 at 12:46)
I am a normal blokem do normal things and mind my own business and don't cause anybody any problems. Round my way we have youths running the streets at night, car crime, vandalism, verbal abuse, muggings etc.
You are saying that if I don't get out there and sort it out (like that bloke in Warrington did) then I am part of the problem! I am just a normal bloke trying to live in peace. The problem is the thugs and their parents, not me.
In this world there are good peopel and bad people. Fact.
As for atking action well that's is what many people are taking about because nothing else has worked has it and we will go back to the old days of street justice.
Pongo61 (30/07/2009 at 13:14)
However, I found out fairly quickly that policing is not what you see on TV. Sadly, I found that there were many in the regular police, and in management in particular, who I'd struggle to call "professional". So I guess it served its purpose for me and I resigned and decided to persue another career.
Turning to specials themselves I found there were very few genuine people wanting to "put something back". The majority fell into two camps: 1) Those, who like me who had the desire and aptitude to join the regular force and usually after 2-3 years did so. 2) Those who wanted to join as a regular but had not a hope in hells chance - these either left or stayed on accompanied by a BIG CHIP on their shoulder.
GMP needs to look at ways of attracting the more genuine types and keeping them for the long term.
Of Denton, Tameside (30/07/2009 at 13:39)
Zimmerman, manchester (30/07/2009 at 13:52)
Billy Brag (30/07/2009 at 14:12)
As a special you know the basics and lack the knowledge and experience to do the job to the highest standard its the difference between an amature footballer and a professional, I know who I'd rather have on my pub team.
Ross (01/08/2009 at 00:25)
We have more police officers than ever, more crime than ever, release more people early than ever, chase around after more people being recalled to prison or breaching bail conditions.
Spend the money on more prisons, lock criminals up for longer, make them serve full sentences.
Stats show rehab rarely works I believe a 5% success rate was recently published.
Lets go back 70-80 years and look at what prisons were like. Get rid of Human Rights. No perks exercise training and education should be the way forward not Playstation Methodone Sky TV and facebook.