Special Constabulary Budget and Numbers

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.041302

I note you seek access to the following information:

I am requesting the following information:

1. Special Constable Numbers by Patrol Status - October 2024 Please provide the number of Special Constables serving in your force as of the end of October 2024. Where possible, please break this down into the number of APS/DPS Special Constables, and any QSC (irrespective of how many QSC stages have been completed). If your force has not adopted IL4SC, please denote how many officers are IPS or non-IPS.
   Additionally, please note how many officers are currently restricted. If this is not possible due to FOI budgetary requirements, this can be omitted.
2. Comparison to 2019
   Please provide the number of Special Constables (irrespective of patrol status or suspension) serving in your force either in October 2019, or at the closest point you can capture data from (please clarify the month where possible).
3. Use of Duty Sheet System
   Please confirm if your force uses Duty Sheet, and if so, how much your force is paying Duty Sheet (this can be an estimated annual cost) for the Special Constabulary. Note this does not include Police Cadets, PSVs or any other DutySheet database.
4. Budget for Special Constables
   Please could you provide figures as to your annual budget for Special Constables force-wide for the 2024-25 financial year?
5. Estimated Cost Savings due to Special Constables If your force has them available, please provide the estimated cost savings your Special Constabulary provides to your force. Note, if the FOI request budget would not allow for this in hours taken to process this request, this question can be omitted.
6. Qualifications and speciality courses
   Please provide information as to whether your force currently provides the following training courses to your Special Constables, and if so, what IL4SC (or patrol status) level is required to engage in the course:
   - Standard Response
   - Advanced Response
   - Initial Phase Pursuit (IPP)
   - Taser
   - Method of Entry (forced entry, whether through lock pulling, enforcer or any other forced entry)
   - Public Order Level 3
   - Public Order Level 2

Decision

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

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - Special Constable Numbers by Patrol Status - October 2024 Please provide the number of Special Constables serving in your force as of the end of October 2024. Where possible, please break this down into the number of APS/DPS Special Constables, and any QSC (irrespective of how many QSC stages have been completed). If your force has not adopted IL4SC, please denote how many officers are IPS or non-IPS.

Additionally, please note how many officers are currently restricted. If this is not possible due to FOI budgetary requirements, this can be omitted.

Q2 - Comparison to 2019
Please provide the number of Special Constables (irrespective of patrol status or suspension) serving in your force either in October 2019, or at the closest point you can capture data from (please clarify the month where possible).

Please see the 2 tables below which answers questions 1 and 2 in terms of numbers and ranks but does not include the status as this is not held:

Q3 - Use of Duty Sheet System
Please confirm if your force uses Duty Sheet, and if so, how much your force is paying Duty Sheet (this can be an estimated annual cost) for the Special Constabulary. Note this does not include Police Cadets, PSVs or any other Duty Sheet database.

We do utilise a Duty Sheet system – the last annual transaction shows as £74,580.72.

Q4 - Budget for Special Constables
Please could you provide figures as to your annual budget for Special Constables force-wide for the 2024-25 financial year?

The MSC budget for 24/25 was £865,300.

Please note this is for MSC related expenses and not pay.

Q5 - Estimated Cost Savings due to Special Constables If your force has them available, please provide the estimated cost savings your Special Constabulary provides to your force. Note, if the FOI request budget would not allow for this in hours taken to process this request, this question can be omitted.

The estimated cost savings are not held by our Finance department.

Q6 - Qualifications and speciality courses
Please provide information as to whether your force currently provides the following training courses to your Special Constables, and if so, what IL4SC (or patrol status) level is required to engage in the course:
- Standard Response
- Advanced Response
- Initial Phase Pursuit (IPP)
- Taser
- Method of Entry (forced entry, whether through lock pulling, enforcer or any other forced entry)
- Public Order Level 3
- Public Order Level 2

All officers are expected to be trained to Public Order Level 3. All courses listed are available to MSC officers, with Independent Patrol Status (IPS) used as a baseline requirement. An officer is considered competent to patrol independently having demonstrated and evidenced competency in all required policing skills. This cannot be gained before a year after leaving training school.