\u201cIT’S really important for Special Constables to get the protection they need when they\u2019re volunteering to come and do the job that our regular colleagues are doing,\u201d South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.<\/p>\n
From 1 July, the national Federation welcomed Special Constables to its membership, aiming to offer support and representation to the 9,174 specials actively volunteering across England and Wales.<\/p>\n
Specials will have access to all the services and support of the Federation, including legal support and access to benefits from providers who offer discounts on financial, health and travel products and services.<\/p>\n
South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent said Special Constables hadn\u2019t yet joined the Federation in his area due to logistic reasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a bit of disagreement about how they\u2019re going to be funded, but there\u2019s no doubt they are going to be funded, which is great news,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am in constant contact with the Deputy Chief Constable and the Specials in our force and we are pretty much on the same lines. They\u2019re going to be welcomed into the Federation. We\u2019re going to be having evenings where we can tell them what it\u2019s about, and it\u2019ll be really important for them to be on board and to get the protection that they need when they are volunteering to come and do the job that our regular colleagues are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n