Hampshire Police Federation pushing forwards to help specials be part of the Federation

16 July 2020

Hampshire Police Federation is playing its part as the Police Federation speeds up work to represent Special Constables.

The Government’s Police Protection Bill, expected this autumn, will allow Special Constables to be represented by the Police Federation for the first time, something the Federation has been pushing for for years.

Hampshire Police Federation Secretary Garry Smith (pictured), who came through the Special Constable route himself, said: “Because all of their volunteering through the pandemic, it’s pushed things through a little swifter.

“The National Police Chiefs’ Council also wanted to be able to give Specials Tasers. However, if they’re involved in the deployment of a Taser and there’s an investigation, they need to be represented appropriately and there’s not a strong channel for that to happen. So again, that’s pushed it through a little bit faster. We hope by the end of this year we’re full steam ahead to be able to take Special Constables on as Federated members.”

Garry said that Federation subscriptions for Special Constables would be paid for by the Chief Constable or the local Police and Crime Commissioner, as Specials could not be expected to pay their own subs when they were volunteering their time.

Hampshire Police Federation has set up a working group with other local Federations to discuss the implementation of the changes.

Garry said: “The working group is all in agreement that representing Specials is a good idea. We are now looking at whether they form part of our council, will they form part of our board, who will be their voice within the Federation, should they have a Specials seat nationally? Emma Carter [Bedfordshire Police Federation Secretary] and myself are both from a Specials background and we’re both great supporters of the Specials and the work that they do.”

The Police Federation of England and Wales has also supported the development. Its Professional Development Lead Dave Bamber said: “Time and again during the COVID-19 pandemic I have been impressed and humbled by the way in which Special Constables have stepped up and worked alongside their full-time colleagues to serve the public when they needed it the most.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the work that Special Constables have been doing, and I looked forward to welcoming them fully into the Police Federation. It's not before time.”