Employer Supported Policing

Employer FAQs

• Why should our organisation get involved with the Metropolitan Police Service and Employer Supported Policing (ESP)?
• What does the scheme involve?
• So what will be the benefits to me, within my business?
• How long is the training?
• Where will the training take place?
• What commitment do I need to make?
• Is there a chance the officer will be asked to patrol for more time?
• Do Special Constables receive a salary?
• What is role of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in this scheme?
• Will I lose staff to the police?
• Can I call on my officer to attend an incident if he/she is on patrol?
• Can I choose when I release my staff?

Why should our organisation get involved with the Metropolitan Police Service and Employer Supported Policing (ESP)?

The scheme is about: skills confidence and a unique experience

• Providing training for your staff
• Contributing directly to the security of your staff, premises and customers
• Building police relationships
• Being socially responsible.
• Directly helping to make London safer.

The scheme has already proved to be successful on so many levels. ESP is also a national, high profile, coordinated initiative. An opportunity now exists for a number of London employers to be at the forefront of this initiative.

What does the scheme involve?
Staff have the opportunity to become ESP Special Constables by attending training courses run by the Metropolitan Police Service, and once trained will provide a high-profile uniformed presence in various areas in London, in many cases relevant to their employing sector. The volunteers who are successful are given all the powers of a regular police officer. They will deal with crime, disorder and reassurance just as any other police officer would, for around 26 shifts per year. The infrastructure is already in place to support, brief, task and co-ordinate the deployment of Specials. The Metropolitan Special Constabulary celebrates its 180th anniversary in 2011.

What will be the benefits to me, within my business?
Please refer to the Employer Benefits page for details of the real and powerful benefits that your department could be receiving from this partnership.

How long is the training?
The training will be conducted over four and a half weeks, Monday to Friday, during normal office hours, over twenty-three Sundays or on a course which is a combination of both. It is delivered by qualified Metropolitan Police trainers.

Where will the training take place?
At a Metropolitan Police Training site such as Hendon.

What commitment do I need to make?
In return for the very tangible benefits which you will receive within a short time, we ask for you to 'sponsor' staff who volunteer for the scheme, by giving them paid leave for some or all of the time off over the training period and then allowing them up to one day's paid leave each fortnight to patrol. The level of commitment your organisation makes is flexible so, please talk to us about how much you can support the programme.

It is important that the time for staff to be Special Constables is given as paid special leave rather than as any type of direct policing payment. This provides clarity and a clear position for all concerned – when on duty during the one day per fortnight, officers are under the direction of the Commissioner of the Met and are afforded the insurance and other various levels of protection that this brings, rather than being under the direction of your organisation. In most cases this will already be agreed centrally with your business.

Is there a chance that the officer may be asked to patrol for more time?
Officers are invited to carry out additional duties in their own time. This is voluntary and unpaid but allows Special Constables to build up their own ‘policing portfolio’ of experience outside their usual work. However, we ask recruits to ensure that the ability to do their day job effectively is not affected. In the unfortunate event of a significant security situation or for the 2012 games, similar in severity to what was seen in July 2005 in London, we may ask that an officer is released from their employment for a longer than usual period, However, this is optional.

Do Special Constables receive a salary?
They receive their normal work salary from your business as paid leave, but they are volunteers in the eyes of the police. Certain allowances are paid so recruits are not out of pocket.

What is the role of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in this scheme?
The MPS are responsible for co-ordinating and operating the ESP scheme in the 32 London boroughs. As a pioneering police service for the scheme, the MPS are leading the way in ESP and working with other police forces and the Home Office to develop the scheme nationwide.

Will I lose staff to the Police?
There is of course a possibility that some staff may wish to change careers and join the police full time. However, experience so far in ESP has shown that the reverse is usually true: the scheme actually helps employers to retain key staff. Many employees, through the training they have received, have increased their confidence and skills, resulting in some being promoted internally.

Can I call on an officer directly to attend an incident when on patrol?
When staff are on-duty as Special Constables they are under the Met’s direction. To maintain the integrity of the service you should still use existing methods of calling 999 or the local control room (depending on the seriousness of the incident) – you must not for example call the officer on their mobile phone to tell them to attend your incident. You can certainly ask the officer for advice, but you have to respect the chains of command in place when the officer works as a Special Constable. Some incidents require several officers and some require specialist knowledge. The particular circumstances of the incident may present the officer with an impossible conflict of interests. MPS supervisors will make the important decisions and allocate staff accordingly. Also if the incident requires immediate help, you will almost certainly get a faster response by dialling 999.

When the member of staff is off-duty and doing their 'day job', it may be appropriate for them to become 'on-duty' on occasion to effect an arrest, however, as you would expect, there are guidelines set up to safeguard the welfare and integrity of all concerned. We have found that in most cases it is not appropriate for the member of staff to become on-duty during their normal working hours and that in general it's 'business as usual'.

Can I choose when I release my staff?
After initial recruit training, the day on which duty is performed is agreed with the manager, individual members of staff and police supervisors where they are stationed. This is a very flexible, informal process.