Special Constabulary Information - Driver Training

Keywords

Special, Constables, Force, Posted, Policing, Roads, Traffic, Department, Response, Driver, Driving, Training, Trained, Eligibility, Selection, Course, Advanced, Initial, Phase, Pursuit, IPP, Standard, Ranks.

Publication Number

PUB 1292

FOI Reference Number

16259

Request Title

Special Constabulary Information

Date Range

N/A

Information Requested

How many Special Constables do you currently have in your Force?

Does your force allow Special Constables to be based or posted within Roads Policing or your local equivalent traffic department?

If yes, how many Special Constables are based on Roads Policing or your local equivalent traffic department?

Does your force offer your Special Constables Standard Response driving training?

If yes, how many Special Constables in your force are currently Standard Response trained?

If applicable, what is the eligibility/selection criteria to apply for or be selected for a Standard Response driving course?

Does your force offer your Special Constables the opportunity to become Advanced Driving trained?

If yes, how many Special Constables are currently Advanced Driving trained?

If applicable, what is the eligibility/selection criteria to apply or be selected for an Advanced Driving course?

Does your force offer Special Constables the opportunity to be trained in Initial Phase Pursuit (IPP)?

If yes, how many Special Constables are currently IPP trained?

If applicable, what is the eligibility/selection criteria apply for or be selected for an IPP course?

Disclosure with Exemptions

Full Disclosure

Information Correct as at

22 October 2021

Date of Disclosure

09 November 2021

Related Documents/Links

N/A

FOI 16259 Response

Having completed enquiries within Essex Police in respect of Section 1(1)(a), Essex Police does hold information relating to your request, Essex Police can confirm in respect of Section 1(1)(b) the following data:

Caveat:  The data is correct as at 22 October 2021.

How many Special Constables do you currently have in your Force?

As of the 30 September 2021, there are 449 Special Constables.  The total number of Special Constabulary Officers including all ranks is 518.

Does your force allow Special Constables to be based or posted within Roads Policing or your local equivalent traffic department?

Yes.

If yes, how many Special Constables are based on Roads Policing or your local equivalent traffic department?

As of the 30 September 2021, there are 13 Special Constables within the Roads Policing Department.  The total number of Special Constabulary Officers within the Roads Policing Department including all ranks is 16.

Does your force offer your Special Constables Standard Response driving training?

Yes.

If yes, how many Special Constables in your force are currently Standard Response trained?

The total number of Special Constabulary Officers who are currently Standard Response trained is 41, this includes all ranks.

If applicable, what is the eligibility/selection criteria to apply for or be selected for a Standard Response driving course?

There are two sets of criteria, one for Local Policing Area (LPA) Officers and another for Substantive Officers - please see below:

A Special Constable (all ranks) in a LPA Uniform Policing Role can apply for a Standard Response Driving Course when the following criteria are met:

• Confirmed in the rank
• At least 700 hours worked since 3 years’ service was attained
• Application is supported by S/Inspector and Head of Special Constabulary based on the Officer's eligibility and capability to deal with emergency incidents (assessment by the S/Inspector, supported by LPA Specials Coordinators)
• Currently on active duties
• Not subject of any formal disciplinary findings within the previous 12 months
• Worked an average of at least 16 hours a month over the last 2 years and at least 16 operational hours in each of the last 6 months.  (Periods of non-operational time owing to OH verified injury (physical or mental), agreed LOA, or maternity/paternity leave may be discounted unless that period is such that re-training as a SC would be required under the existing protocols)
• Committed to at least 16 hours operational hours a month for at least the next 2 years (to be confirmed in writing by the applicant on their TS2).
• Confirm availability to attend the full course when allocated (currently 15 days).

A Special Constable (all ranks) when promoted and substantive in that rank can apply for a Standard Response Driving Course when the following criteria are met:

• Minimum two years’ service from attestation
• Active duties
• Passed promotion board and any related PDP has been completed and signed off
• Tutor course completed
• Worked an average of at least 16 operational hrs in each of the last 6 months
• Committed to at least 16hrs operational hours a month for at least the next 2 years (to be confirmed in writing by the applicant)
• Available to attend the course (currently 15 days)
• Not subject to disciplinary in past 12 months etc, no current action plan.

Does your force offer your Special Constables the opportunity to become Advanced Driving trained?

Yes

If yes, how many Special Constables are currently Advanced Driving trained?

The total number of Special Constabulary Officers who are currently Advanced Driving trained is 3, this includes all ranks.

If applicable, what is the eligibility/selection criteria to apply or be selected for an Advanced Driving course?

Officers would only be eligible if it matched that of a Regular Officer on the same unit.

Does your force offer Special Constables the opportunity to be trained in Initial Phase Pursuit (IPP)?

Yes.

If yes, how many Special Constables are currently IPP trained?

The total number of Special Constabulary Officers who are currently IPP trained is 15, this includes all ranks.

If applicable, what is the eligibility/selection criteria apply for or be selected for an IPP course?

Officers would only be eligible if it matched that of a Regular Officer on the same unit.

Every effort is made to ensure that the data provided by Essex Police is accurate and complete.  However, Essex Police systems are designed primarily for the management of individual cases and not for the purposes of providing data to answer specific FOI enquiries.  Please note although data can be extracted from a number of sources via database queries, the results may be subject to inaccuracies.  Care should be taken to understand our return when considering the interpretation or further use of the data.