On Monday, the Government present an incredibly important piece of legislation in the House of Commons. The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill - if passed - will lead to a real policing revolution across our country. The main part of the Bill will give local people the chance to decide the kind of policing they want for their neighbourhood. For the first time, Residents will be able to elect local Police Commissioners, who will decide police priorities. The Bill also tightens up laws on drug abuse and licensing law, giving local councils more powers to close unruly bars, clubs and pubs.
I hope to bring an amendment to the Bill. As regular readers of my blog will know, I have argued a number of times that we seriously need to boost the Special Constabulary. As the picture shows, a few weeks ago, I met with the Home Secretary to push the case for Specials. Accompanying me was the Chief Constable of Essex.
One idea is to allow Councils to discount Council Tax for those who become Specials. This would act as an incentive, and would give something back to those Specials, who do so much to give their efforts to communities. My Amendment would make this possible.
Today in the Commons, I asked the Government if they support my amendment. I was very encouraged by the reply.
Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Has my right hon. Friend seen my early-day motions 520, 598 and 1,160?
[That this House welcomes the statement by the right hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs that there is a `huge untapped potential' for recruiting more special constables in the future; notes that the number of specials in Essex has doubled over the past four years to nearly 700 officers; further notes the public service of special constables, who are dedicated volunteers, often working in hazardous conditions; believes that transforming the Special Constabulary into a Territorial Army-type force would enable specials to cover more policing duties and would offer excellent value for money, sustaining frontline operational services; further believes that specials are a genuinely local force, like Neighbourhood Watch, who offer an invaluable source of community intelligence; and therefore calls upon the Government to refocus its resources to incentivise special constables, so that they can work more hours and develop professionally.]
Will my right hon. Friend make a statement on what steps the Government are taking to support special constables, and will he support my planned amendment to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill that would give local authorities the power to give special constables a discount on their council tax?
Sir George Young: I endorse my hon. Friend’s support for special constables. As I announced a few moments ago, we are debating the Second Reading of the police Bill on Monday, and if he were lucky enough to serve on the Public Bill Committee, he would have an opportunity to table his amendment to exempt special constables from paying council tax. I should add that powers already exist to allow police authorities, with the support of the chief constable, to pay an allowance to some or all special constables in their area, and the Government also want to do what they can to increase the number of special constables.The Motion about my proposed amendment is as follows:
SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL CONSTABLES
08.12.2010
Halfon, Robert
That this House urges that special constables be supported by local authorities through discounts on or exemptions to their council tax; notes that this idea is fully supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers and has been trialled in the form of a 100 per cent. rebate by Southampton City Council; congratulates the 696 special constables in Essex and the 14,251 special constables in England and Wales on their dedication and service; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals to provide a power to local authorities to exempt special constables from paying council tax, or to give them a substantial discount.
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