Philip Dunne, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Ludlow, pointed out today newly published government figures showing the number of special police constables across the West Mercia force, which covers the Ludlow Constituency, has fallen by 52 per cent since 1997. Special constables are voluntary uniformed police officers and assist regular police officers in frontline policing duties, particularly in patrolling in town centres.
But to reverse this decline, Conservatives nationally have now pledged that special constables should be paid an annual allowance, in the same way that Territorial Army reservists are paid.
Philip Dunne said: "I was discussing police numbers in Shropshire the other day with Chief Supt Guy Rutter divisional commander for the county. The good news is that a few more police are available in Bridgnorth and Ludlow districts. He also has interesting experience of the introduction of community safety officers, who do not have the power to arrest.
"Special constables are very valuable, since they play a vital role in neighbourhood policing, especially in providing a welcome uniformed presence in town centres during the day and night. But specials have powers to arrest, like full-time officers, yet are being overwhelmed by bureaucracy and paperwork; falling morale has led to the number of specials in the West Mercia area plummeting by 52 per cent since Labour came to power.
"Conservatives pledge to reverse this decline, not just by cutting police paperwork, but also by paying special constables an annual allowance - just as we do with army reservists. If we can restore numbers to pre-1997 levels, this could represent more than doubling in size of the local Special Constabulary.
"On top of this, we would fund 633 more full-time police officers on the beat across West Mercia, cut the political correctness which creates red-tape, and give local communities a greater say on where police resources should be focused."
