Mersey police to recruit more Specials for 2008

Aug 1 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

POLICE on Merseyside have launched their biggest-ever recruitment drive for new special constables to keep crime levels down during Capital of Culture year.

Although around 2m extra visitors are expected to pour into the city during 2008, the Government has refused to hand over any extra cash to help with policing costs.

The new 43-acre Grosvenor retail and leisure development on Paradise Street will also draw huge numbers of extra visitors to the city centre.

Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe said he wanted to increase the number of voluntary special constables from 400 to 600 by next March. At a launch held yesterday, around 50 retailers signalled their support for the recruitment drive by signing up to a new ShopWatch initiative.

This will involve shop workers and hotel staff being trained as Specials and giving up eight hours of their working month to mount visible patrols in their area, with another eight hours to be volunteered in their own time.

The scheme is modelled on a successful one already running in London.

So far major employers such as Grosvenor, John Lewis, Tesco, Virgin, and Sainsbury have said they are keen to co-operate in the initiative, along with a number of smaller retailers from right across Merseyside. Among those attending yesterday’s launch was Mick Hargreaves, responsible for store security at Somerfield supermarkets on Merseyside.

He said: “For too long retailers have criticised the police for not getting involved in our problems.

“This scheme will not only help retailers, but the wider community.”

Mr Hargreaves said the biggest crime issues his stores faced were shoplifting, verbal abuse and assaults on staff.

The first trained Specials are due to take up their duties by the end of the year.

Special constables operating under the ShopWatch scheme will be paid by their employer to patrol around designated retail areas for at least one day every month. The employee will then be expected to carry out the other eight hours a month in their own time.

Peter Jones, business crime director with Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said: “ShopWatch will be an extension of the partnerships we’ve already got, such as 198 retailers on the radio link sharing intelligence about crime.

“Next year will be make or break for the city economically, with 2m extra visitors expected.

“We can’t risk any damage to the city’s reputation, and we need to make sure our visitors have a peaceful and enjoyable stay.”

alanweston