Special Constables

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FIN/24/002587/O

 Version Date: 10/12/2024

The Citizens in Policing Team have provided 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.

94 officers - 25 IPS and 69 Non IPS. Teaching a hybrid of IL4SC and SCLP.

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

16. 
    
    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).

125 officers - 38 IPS and 87 Non IPS (October 2019).

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

Dorset Police uses Duty Sheet.

Please be advised that no information is held regarding the estimated annual costs as we can only provide recorded information, not estimations. If you can provide us with the financial years in which you would like this information for then we may be able to provide the costs.

4. Budget for Special Constables
   Please could you provide figures as to your annual budget for Special Constables forcewide for the 2024-25 financial year?

There is no central budget as costs are split across functions.

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.

There are no cost savings as Special Constables have a cost and provide additional resource and functions to the force and not a replacement for regular officers or police staff.

6. Qualifications and specialty 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

Yes. Operational officers AP / IPS based upon course availability.

- Advanced Response

Yes. Selected officers IPS

- Initial Phase Pursuit (IPP)

Yes. Selected officers IPS

- Taser

Yes, for those that meet the national criteria - IPS

- Method of Entry (forced entry, whether through lockpulling, enforcer or any other forced entry)

No

- Public Order Level 3

No

- Public Order Level 2

No.