Information in relation to Metropolitan Special Constabulary

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.023210

I note you seek access to the following information:

Re-Def
To answer the additional question - and narrow down the search, please limit the data to the last 24 months (2 years).

Initial request
Please provide the following information in relation to Metropolitan Special Constabulary.

1. How many special constables, sergeants, ETA are there presently, by rank?
2. What percentage of them are operational?
3. What is the average cost of recruiting and training one special constables?
4. What is the average"running cost" of supporting one operational special constable, per year?
5. On average, how many operational hours a special constable must complete to pay for corresponding recruitment and training cost?
6. What percentage of newly recruited special constables quit/resign before completing the minimum number of hours as per the previous question?
7. What is the total annual cost of "running" Special Constabulary?
8. What are on average annual cost saving realised by the Special Constabulary in comparison with retaining the same number of operational hours by regular Police Constables?

Where a number may vary, please provide an average, best approximation or range, whichever is easier to obtain.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - How many special constables, sergeants, ETA are there presently, by rank?

Please see the attached.

Q2 - What percentage of them are operational?

I have been advised that due to the current mechanisms in which non-operational is currently captured or interpreted, to try and answer this part of your request would take in excess of the 18hrs provided under the Act to answer this question alone.

Q3 - What is the average cost of recruiting and training one special constables?

In 2021 the cost of recruiting and training on special constable was £3,889.00.

Q4 - What is the average"running cost" of supporting one operational special constable, per year?

The general ongoing cost of supporting one operational special constable per year is £1,430.00

Q5 - On average, how many operational hours a special constable must complete to pay for corresponding recruitment and training cost?

A special constable must complete approximately 166 hours.

Q6 - What percentage of newly recruited special constables quit/resign before completing the minimum number of hours as per the previous question?

I have been advised that to try and answer this part of your request would take three officers or staff members approximately 80 hours of work to obtain this information as this would involve trying to obtain information from four different sources which would be cumbersome and time consuming. Based on this it would take in excess of the 18hrs provided under the Act to answer this question alone.

Q7 - What is the total annual cost of "running" Special Constabulary?

The approximate annual cost of ‘running’ the special constabulary is £4.2 million which also includes expenses.

Q8 - What are on average annual cost saving realised by the Special Constabulary in comparison with retaining the same number of operational hours by regular Police Constables?

In 2021, £17.7 million compared to the hourly cost of a police constable (this excludes running costs and expenses of a regular police constable).