Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase the number of special constables in (a) Staffordshire and (b) England.

The Government recognises and values the professionalism, dedication and sacrifice shown by special constables in their work. Special constables, along with the full range of volunteers in policing, make a vital contribution to keeping our communities safe.

Data published by the Home Office in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin shows the number of special constables (headcount) in England has declined by 70% since a peak of 19,619 in March 2012 down to 5,860 in March 2024. In Staffordshire Police the number of special constables has declined by 74% from a peak of 512 in March 2012 down to 132 in March 2024.

The Home Secretary has made a clear commitment to strengthen neighbourhood policing through the introduction of a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. The Guarantee will put thousands of additional neighbourhood police personnel back on the beat, including special constables, as part of the Government’s Safer Streets mission.