Andrew Dismore

The Mayor of London’s promise to “double the number of Special Officers to 10,000” looks to be in tatters after the Met’s latest figures showed that there are now only 3,253 Specials in the capital, 43% fewer than in May 2012 when he made the pledge. In Barnet and Camden the number fell 41% from 424 in May 2012 to only 249 in December 2015.

 

Special constables are volunteer police officers with all the powers of police officers. The falling number of special constables comes on top of significant cuts to the number of police community support officers (PCSOs) over the past few years. Met statistics show that in Barnet and Camden since 2010 215 PCSOs and 316 Police officers have been cut from the streets, 30% of the original number. Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore warned that the cumulative impact of the drop in Specials, PCSOs and police officers risks leaving a “much reduced police force for his successor.”

 

When the Mayor was re-elected in May 2012 there were 5,677 Specials in London, according to the latest figures there are now only 3,253. The figures represent an embarrassing failure for the Mayor who previously said that Specials represented a ‘vital link’ between the police and the public.

 

Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden, Andrew Dismore AM said:

 

“In 2012 Boris recognised the significant role Special Constables play in providing an important link between the police and public and bolstering our police service. Despite his promise to double their ranks what we’ve actually seen is a dramatic and continuing fall in the number of Special Constables, including in Barnet and Camden which has seen a 41% decline. At this rate he may well have less than half of what he started with by the time he leaves office.

 

“With PCSO and police officer numbers also in decline, the falling number of Specials should be of real concern. Boris should be asking why the Met is failing to attract enough people, is it because the opportunities are not well enough advertised or is the increasing pressure facing the police putting people off?

 

“Between the drop in Special and PCSO numbers, Boris looks set to leave a much reduced police force for his successor.”

 

ENDS

 

Notes

• Figures on Police Officer and PCSO numbers can be found here.
• A breakdown of the decline in Special Constables between 2012 and 2015 can be found below:

 

Month-Year	Barnet and Camden Special Constables	MPS Total
May-12	424	5,677
Dec-15	249	3,253
Decrease in Special Constables since May 2012	175	2,424
% loss	41	43%

Source: Met datastore, accessed 02 March 2016

• A breakdown of the decline in Police Officers and PCSOs between 2010 and 2015 can be found below:

 

Barnet and Camden

MPS Total

 

Officers May 2010	1491	33,147
PCSOs May 2010	292	4489
Uniformed Officers May 2010	1783	37,636
Officers Dec 15	1175	31,612
PCSOs Dec 15	77	1,663
Total Uniformed Officers Dec 2015	1253	33,275

 

 

Police Officer Number decline since May 10	316	1,535
Police Officer % decline since May 10	21%	5%

 

 

PCSO Decline since May 10	215	2,826
PCSO % Decline since May 10	74%	63%

 

Uniformed Officer Decline May 10	530	4,361
% Uniformed Officer Decline	30%	13%

Source: Met datastore, accessed 02 March 2016

• In his 2012 Crime Manifesto, available here, Boris Johnson wrote “I will aim to double the current number of Special Constables further to 10,000. Their remit will be to work in the evenings, on the transport network and with Safer Neighbourhood Teams.” (page 13)
• In the same document the Mayor said Specials were a “vital link between the police and the public, strengthening the consent and support on which the police rely.” (page 13)

 

• Andrew Dismore AM is the London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden