Special Constables and Police Support Volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to policing were honoured for their work. Policing Minister, Rt Hon David Hanson MP and Deputy Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle, Deputy Chief Executive of the NPIA presented the awards at the Special Constable and Police Volunteer Awards ceremony in London on 17 June. These annual awards, established by the former Minister of State, Earl Ferrers, highlight the valuable contribution that Specials and civilian volunteers make to policing local neighbourhoods and communities every day. The high visibility frontline presence of Specials backed up by the administrative support of civilian volunteers increases the capacity of police forces, frees up more time for full time officers to focus on frontline duties, helps to deter criminal activity and reassures local communities. This year's Ferrers Trophy winner, Specials Inspector Kevin McHardy from Cheshire Constabulary, set up a police operation that helped to cut crime and anti-social behaviour in his local area. Operation ROME involved twenty-five members of the Special Constabulary, regular officers and PCSOs. Licensed premises were searched and documents checked, test purchases of alcohol by trained minors were carried out, hot-spots for anti-social behaviour and underage drinking were covertly targeted and parents were contacted and advised about the dangers of underage drinking. All this resulted in a dozen arrests, thirteen persons found in possession of drugs, one licensee who failed a test purchase and large quantities of alcohol confiscated. The operation was so successful it is being repeated on a regular basis and is being adapted by other Neighbourhood Policing Units. Listen to Jim Barker-McCardle, Deputy Chief Executive of the NPIA and the Policing Minister, Rt Hon David Hanson MP speak - full transcript shown below : DCC Jim Barker McCardle: Listen to speech 1 MB, 1min 43secs Read Transcript: The nominations we have received provide something of a snapshot but it is indeed a glorious snapshot of the myriad roles that Special Constables and Police Volunteers play in modern day policing. You are an outstanding bunch of people. In the NPIA we are a very keen supporter of the Special Constabulary across the country and volunteering and in that respect we have some very distinct contributions to make; firstly in supporting events of this nature but also by providing support to strengthen and develop the Special Constabulary work, the number of Special Constables and police volunteers right across the country. With an estimated 20,000 now in place, whenever we are engaged with countries oversees, they marvel that there is something called the Special Constabulary [in this country] then they truly marvel at the extent of it. It is regarded worldwide because of the quality of work you do. It's the example you set in your leadership of communities that is the inspiration to us all to continually strengthen your work in numbers and in terms of the skills you need to deliver your difficult tasks. David Hanson: Listen to speech 581 KB, 56secs David Hanson: Listen to speech 214 KB, 20secs Read Transcript: There are many people who have either finished work, are still at work or people for whom work has not been an opportunity who can and should contribute to help support our police service as it is my view that the police service is not something separate from the community - it is something integral and involved in the community. David Hanson: Listen to speech 514 KB, 50secs Read Transcript: Please accept from me that whatever we do in the future and whatever we have done in the past, the Special Constabulary will be a key element of our focus on our engaging with local people. You do an excellent job. You should be proud of your work. You should be particularly proud to find yourself in this room today to be recognised among the many thousands of people in our communities but which ever part of England and Wales you return to, go back with that pride of the awards today and go back with a pride to your colleagues to say we are police officers, we are Special Constables, we serve a function, we do a job, we serve our community and we do it with pride. Remember today as a special day in your life and also to the forces you represent.
Read Transcript: It is particularly important that we in Government recognise the work that Special Constables undertake because it is voluntary and is part of the major voluntary effort we have put into the criminal justice system and it is something that will support our full time officers to do an effective, strong job in the community backed up by Special Constables and police support volunteers. The efforts of Special Constables and police support volunteers will, I believe, greatly contribute to the agenda we have in Government to helping to ensure an effective 21st century police service, which is one we can all be proud of and build on the great successes of the past but also be local, outward facing, engaged and in touch with communities and be the local people serving the local communities from where you have come from.
