By Ben Kerrigan
Conservative Assembly member Keith Prince has called for the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan to take a “creative approach” to recruit more voluntary police.
Kevin Prince(pictured) has called for the Met to work with retired police officers the year after they leave the force to fast-track them into the special constabulary and keep their experience of the job.
The prince proposes for football clubs to recruit stewards to act as special constables at home games with free match tickets for them and their families as a perk for their work. Mr Prince believes special constables should also be allowed to carry tasers if they meet the Met’s training requirements for the stun weapon.
And the Conservative assembly member is calling for perks of the voluntary role –free travel and the council tax rebate – to be linked to hours served.Mr Prince said: “By generously volunteering their own time, specials save the taxpayer millions of pounds every year while playing an indispensable role in helping to keep Londoners safe.
“The dramatic fall in the number of specials under Sadiq Khan is deeply concerning, and it is incumbent on the Mayor and the Met Police to do all they can to reverse the decline.”
A spokesperson for the Mayor acknowledged the “important role” of special constables in policing the capital.“Specials must not be used to fill the cracks that huge Government cuts have inflicted on the police service.“The Mayor urges the Assembly Member to join him in calling on the Government to provide the 6,000 additional officers the Met needs, and reverse the damaging cuts to youth services and sports clubs.”