CHRISTOPHER SALMON has suggested that every community in Dyfed Powys should benefit from a volunteer Special Constable, in what he described as ‘the return of the village Bobby in a modern form.’
The current Police and Crime Commissioner, who is seeking reelection in May, told farmers in Brecon that ‘your local officer is at the heart of my plan for safer rural communities.’
He was speaking on a visit to Lower Pontwilym Farm, near Brecon where he discussed rural crime with local farmer Trevor Walters and others.
Mr. Salmon is proposing to shake up opportunities for volunteers to contribute to keeping their local area safe. He wants to speed the application process and create opportunities for local people who want to contribute to keeping their area safe.
“Special Constables are special people,” he said, “they give up their time to make their homes, neighbourhoods and families safer. At the same time, they gain great life skills and have a huge impact on people around them. I have been struck by the appetite among the public to get involved.”
“I’ve delivered more officers for extra hours every day in our towns and villages. I want to protect those frontline officers and increase support from Special Constables. They are trained volunteers, in uniform, with full police powers”
Referring to the elections for Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys, to be held on May 5, he said: “The choice is clear. To secure your local officer, safer homes and lower bills, you need to vote Christopher Salmon for Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner.”
Special constables are unpaid, part-time volunteers who receive training to work with and support regular police officers. They have the same powers as police officers and usually wear the same uniform. Consequently, to a member of the public, they do not appear to be any different from police officers. They will often be engaged in similar work as regular police officers, such as foot patrol, car patrol (alone, with another special constable or with a regular police officer), attending incidents and the policing of major events.
Often, special constables are members of the public who have an interest in helping to police their local community. As such, they will be regularly involved in neighbourhood policing and tackling anti-social behaviour. Generally, special constables are not involved in specialist policing, such as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as they require higher levels of training. However, as with regular police officers, they may be required to attend court and give evidence following an arrest or involvement in a major incident.
Dyfed Powys Police asks those thinking of applying to give a commitment of 16 hours work per month, or four hours per week.
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