The Metropolitan Police Special Constabulary is to undergo some major changes.

Included in these changes are:

• Ranks - Will now mirror regular rank structure - For example, Special Sergeants, Special Inspector etc.
• Those in ranks higher than the normal Special Constable grade will have to re-apply for their jobs with no guarantees being made
• Warrant cards will now say "police officer"
• Specials will no longer be allowed to mirror regular shifts on normal response work. They will be forced to join one of the following:

1) Safer Neighbourhood Team > These generally work during week days tasks can include i.e. dealing with graffiti, leasing with local schools, reassurance patrols etc

OR


2) Tasking units > These would be generally public order vans patrolling a pre-defined area. The sole responsibility of these vans is to provide a high visibility presence on a Friday\Saturday night to deal with alcohol related violence and disorder ONLY. This will ease the pressure on the regular officers. The area could be vast, and may not be local to the current location that the special resides at. This may therefore be unsuitable for specials who are unable to work Friday & Saturday evenings.

OR

3) 3) Shop watch > This is a scheme where employers (TESCO, John Lewis etc) allow their employees to become specials giving 2 paid working days a month for training. They gain the powers of police officers within their stores to deter\deal with thefts. This is the only option for police staff who are joining the specials.


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To say the least this has totally p****d me off. As a teacher, I can do weekends and during half terms and holidays I can do weekdays but the changes mean that I have to join one of the above meaning that I either join a tasking unit and get limited to working weekend evenings or I join a safer neighbourhood team (which I couldn't do because I work in the day) - this means that all the spare time I have including the six weeks summer holiday would be wasted because I cant now just book in and go out and assist the regulars.

I am likely to get very bored going out in a van and doing the same thing every weekend. Also, I am worried because at the moment the Special Constabulary provides a good grounding of police work for those who want to join the regulars but by doing just one type of work it simply wont be doing this anymore.

I know a number of special constables thinking of packing it in and at the moment I am unsure if I want to continue as a special with the MPS. I could quit and apply to a neighbouring force or I could just quit and call it a day.

4 years I police for free for them and they don't even ask us if we want the changes.

Whats new? Just change the policy and hope for the best in their opinion isn't it!?

Your nothing to them Jon, your volunteers therefore they can basically do what they want. Not saying they're right or anything but your not regs your the police equivalent version of St. Johns ambulance your the bare minimum and thus get all the crap jobs so reg can deal with more serious stuff

Could come here and joni the Garda Reserve get a few patrols with me

Thing is, my borough is good for specials, I go out at the moment with the regs and do reg jobs. It's a force wide thing which means there's nothing that can be done and it's plain annoying that all they want to use us for is what the reg's can't be bothered with.

The the point I was putting accross your free polincing so the stuff they pay for might aswell do the "more important" stuff

Yep I heard about this. To be honest I don't blame the cials getting the hump.
SNT, that would send me bonkers and being tasked up town everyday when you didn't sign up for that would wear thin too!

The BDO for our division, is a top bloke he has given 26 years of his life to the MSC. He has helped no end especially with the Islamic community over the London bombings. In all honesty he probably prevented no end of disorder when the local mosques were attacked.

He went up there, during the day leaving his business to be closed and quelled it all putting in 12 hour days for feck all.

To be told you've got to apply for your rank, but you choose between a sh1tty job and a no sure where next sh1tty job is not fair.

Jim (not a special, but special in my own way)

Like special needs you mean

This definately is an unfortunate example of a special who actually does work now he's in the higher ranks and does a damn good job. He should be successful in keeping his rank, and if he's not it's a total disgrace. There are some BDO's out there though that aren't as dedicated and do a bloody awful job and you can tell which boroughs they are because their special numbers are significantly lower.

Well he was awarded an MBE years ago and has a few good friends high up. I hope he keeps his rank and can work the way he wants to.

I know this BDO quite well and have worked with him on many events etc over the years. He is dedicated and a very good motivator, you only have to speak to some of his SPC's to discover that. They are very active on our Borough, it would be a great shame to loose people like him

Wandsworth parkie?

Yep, you can tell me apart from the rest, I'm the good looking one
Where do you work out from- Tooting? I assuming your a reg from your previous post. Hope Fred survives the changes!

Kit

Tooting for sure ja. Fred has had metting I'll let you know how he got on.

Funny I'm the only good looking one too!