Croydon's Conservative Council has approved a new initiative to cut crime in the Borough. The Boroughbeat proposal involves the council providing paid leave for staff to undergo the four week training Metropolitan Police Training course to become special constables, which takes place Monday to Friday.
Once they are fully trained, the council will release them one day a fortnight to provide a uniformed presence patrolling areas of joint importance to both the council and the police. They will often be on the beat side by side with experienced police officers, resulting in an increased dedicated police presence in crime hotspots.
Cllr Gavin Barwell, cabinet member for safety and cohesion, said: "The Boroughbeat scheme will directly benefit our residents by putting more police officers on the streets, in the areas where we know they want them, responding to the issues we know they care about. Special constables have the same powers as full-time police officers, and they often work side by side with experienced officers. Also, residents will benefit from a council where some members of staff are fully trained police officers, with a better understanding of crime issues, and transferable skills to help the community while on the beat, and in their everyday council roles. We already have an excellent working relationship with our local police force, and this scheme can only help to strengthen it."
Borough commander Chief Superintendent Adrian Roberts said: "Special constables make an extremely valuable contribution to police services, so I'm delighted that the council is proposing to sponsor members of staff to join us in this capacity. In turn, police training provides specials with some important skills, which includes enhancing their communications skills and learning about relevant legislation. I'm sure that equipping members of council staff with these skills will help to give them extra confidence as they deliver services to residents. Boroughbeat has been successful in other areas across the capital and I'm look forward to seeing Croydon reap the benefits of close working relationships between individual police officers and local authority employees."
The Boroughbeat scheme has already been successfully trialled in other London boroughs including Lewisham, Bromley and Merton. It is based on a highly successful scheme called Shopwatch, which draws staff from the retail sector to become special constables.
Specials are required to carry out a minimum of 300 hours a year with the police.
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