Employer Supported Policing

Getting Involved

As an employer, your involvement is vitally important to the success of Employer Supported Policing for your organisation and staff, and the police and public.

We are keen that you are made fully aware of the ESP programme and all the benefits it can bring. Our executives' information pack should give enough information to allow you to make the decision to allow staff to take part. In addition, there is a specific pack available for staff recruitment and there is also a pack for departmental / line managers of potential recruits.

There are three main ways for staff to get involved in ESP. These methods work best when combined together.

1. Internal recruitment, with the support of the Met Police

Your organisation signs up to a written Memorandum of Understanding (this is not a formal contract) with the ESP team and then nominates an ESP Co-ordinator to act as a central point of contact, responsible for driving awareness and the recruitment process.

Your ESP Co-ordinator can combine the information packs we provide with your own marketing ideas, preferred channels and HR department’s input to create the most powerful awareness-driving campaign for your staff.

The Metropolitan Police Service provides a fast-track online application system, a recruitment call centre and postal application system. We also provide staff and line management information packs, as well as suggestions for posters / flyers and presence on your Intranet. We can usually also run open recruitment days on your premises, for interested staff.

The Met handle all applications through every step of the selection process, including interviews, fitness and medical testing, vetting and more. All your business has to do is actively market the scheme to staff and managers and then support staff through the application process and when on-duty part time.

2. Check your existing Special Leave Policy

You may find that your organisation already provides some paid leave each year for Special Constabulary or other public duties. Register this with the ESP team and receive formal recognition of your organisations support and your employees will benefit from being a part of ESP, without any change to policy.

3. Existing Special Constables

You may find that you have existing Special Constables working for you who could benefit from carrying out their duties as part of ESP. Any such people may currently work as Special Constables in London or surrounding forces. If they are Met Specials, they could quickly be brought within the scheme. Individual circumstances would be considered for any non-Met current Special Constables but their training and induction would be significantly easier - perhaps even unnecessary.

Checking for existing Specials is highly recommended – many employers we work with have been surprised to learn that they have a significant amount of Special Constables already working for them.

A full time member of staff would usually be doing their normal day job for 90% of their working hours – the benefits to your business from this unique training and development opportunity for staff are clear.

The Course itself - When and how?

There are three ways in which your staff can get their training

An intensive weekday course lasting four and a half weeks. This is the preferred option as it allows the recruit to be fully trained around five months sooner.

Over 23 consecutive Sundays, with a day’s leave each week given in lieu of this employer supported course, for example: the following Mondays.

A hybrid course, which involves just two weeks of intensive training and the rest at the weekends.

Is your organisation interested in joining the ESP partnership and receiving the benefits that police training for your staff can bring? Or are you an individual thinking of joining ESP or encouraging your employer to take part? Please take a look around this website or use our online form to get in touch.