Special Constables in Suffolk will soon have access to police federation
Special constables are unpaid but have the same powers as other police officers
Special Constables in Suffolk will soon be allowed into the Police Federation, after years of campaigning for them to receive the same protection as other police officers.
Although special constables have the same powers as other police officers and are held to the same standard, they’re not currently entitled to the same support.
It comes as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which includes a provision to allow Special Constables to become members, is set to becomes law early next year.
Darren Harris, the Chair of the Suffolk Police Federation, said it was ‘only right’ for specials to receive the same legal protection as other officers.
He said: “Specials face the same risks as regular officers, and they’ve played a vital role during the pandemic, so I’m proud that we’ll soon be able to welcome them into the Federation.
“We’re looking forward to that day,” he added.
Dave Bamber, secretary of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) Special Constabulary Working Group, said: "Specials won’t be treated any differently when they join PFEW. They will have parity with the existing membership, and exactly the same expert support, representation, and rights to vote and stand in elections. Nothing will be any different from any Special and an existing member.
"As volunteers though, we are keen to offer as much support as we can – especially for Specials who might not earn a lot in their day jobs or are struggling financially.
"There is so much work to be done on the behalf of Specials. Nobody has looked properly at their conditions of service, how they are treated in the workplace, their terms of reference, or their pensions, for many, many years."