Volunteer police reserves under consideration to bolster numbers

Government hopes scheme will allow officers to gain skills in cyber security and digital technology from private sector workers

The Government is considering establishing a reservist police force to allow highly skilled specialists and former officers to join in the fight against crime, The Telegraph can reveal.

Operating along similar lines to the Armed Forces reserve, recruits could be called upon in times of increased demand to support regular officers.

Retired officers, or those who have left the service early, could also be retained for a period in order to bolster numbers, especially in experienced ranks.

Volunteers would be rewarded for their time and the scheme would also help cement relationships between the police and wider society, it is said.

But the real value is thought to be in persuading highly trained professionals from the private sector – especially in fields such as cyber security and digital technology – to volunteer their time and skills.

Police leaders believe by tapping into the technological expertise available in big business they will be better placed to develop their digital crime fighting skills.

It has long been recognised that relatively low police salaries mean forces are unable to compete with private firms when it comes to attracting the brightest and best from the IT sector.

But by developing a police reserve, volunteers could be persuaded to work alongside regular officers for a set period each year.

While volunteers would likely be paid for their time, those working on the scheme are also considering how else they could be attracted, with one idea being tax incentives.

While still in its very early stages, police representatives have met with the Prime Minister and Home Secretary to discuss the plans. Downing Street is said to be keen on developing the scheme.

The idea is supported by a number of leading officers and also has backing within the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.

One source involved in the discussions said: “Developing a reservist force would allow public spirited volunteers with a range of skills, expertise and abilities to feel like they are giving something back.

“There are reservists in the Armed Forces and in the Fire Service so this would be a logical step and could really benefit policing in the future as the nature of crime changes.

“It would also mean that the invaluable experience held by officers who retire in their 50s would not be lost, as they could remain members of a reserve force.

“Retention is also becoming a real issue with many officers leaving the service after a few years, tempted by higher salaries outside. But this would allow those who still love policing to remain connected.”

Policing is already supported by thousands of volunteers through the Special Constabulary, which provides an invaluable service in areas such as public order and neighbourhood patrols.

A government source said: “Our Special Constabulary already does a very good job but bolstering it with volunteers with specialist skills is something that we are happy to consider and we are looking at these ideas.”

But over the past decade the number of unpaid volunteers offering their time has more than halved, falling from over 20,000 in 2012 to just 9,100 last year.

Many specials sign up with ambitions to transfer to the regular service after gaining valuable on-the-job experience.

But the success of the Government’s uplift programme – which aims to recruit 20,000 extra officers by 2023 – has provided many ambitious recruits with a swifter and more direct route into uniform.

In 2012 there were more than 20,000, but by last year that number had fallen to just over 9,100.

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