Interviews

Employer supported policing anniversary

by Mark Rowe

The Metropolitan Police (Met) scheme which encourages employers to release members of staff to join the Special Constabulary is ten years old. Launched with the support of retailers in 2004, Employer Supported Policing (ESP) now sees members of staff not just working in shops but in companies such as HSBC and KPMG, bus drivers, council workers and NHS Trusts released from their day job to help police the streets of London.

For the employer there is just the cost of time to find – training and uniform is provided by the Met. And the benefits? For employers, it’s about staff development, additional security and a sense of corporate social responsibility. For individuals it’s about building skills and confidence, contributing to the safety and security of the capital and doing something different to their day job. And for London, it’s about extra policing.

Once trained, the officers patrol in areas across the capital during some of their usual working hours and some of their own time, helping to police London, usually in areas relevant to their day job. They’re fully uniformed and they have the backup of full-time police officers, to tackle crime head-on and provide reassurance to the public. When they’re in their day jobs, they can use all the training, skills, experience and confidence to make an impact there too.

Assistant Commissioner Simon Byrne, championing the scheme for the Met, said: “Employer Supported Policing is a simple but powerful partnership: employers support their staff to train and patrol as Special Constables and when they’re not in uniform, they are working with the knowledge from the briefings they have had giving us plenty of extra eyes and ears whilst using their skills to great effect with their employer.”

AC Byrne joined Neil Barrett, the Met head of the scheme, to mark ten years of ESP and pay tribute to the many employers and Special Constables across the capital who have been involved with ESP since its launch.

Neil said: “It’s been a great decade for ESP and that’s thanks to the support of the Specials who volunteered to take part, the employers that have supported them and the supervisors who have encouraged them. I hope that more employers and staff will want to join the partnership over the next ten years.”

AC Byrne added that the scheme is very much open for business: “If you’re an employer, why not help your employees be there for London and see what benefits you could get – or if you’re an employee, find out about the fantastic training and other opportunities you’ll receive as a Special Constable.”

Jim Marsh, Chief Operations Officer for KPMG said: “We are proud to support ESP and the amazing efforts of a number of our colleagues who work with the service.”

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