Soho Specials take Deputy Mayor on crime crackdown

A team of Specials, dedicated to tackling crime in the Soho area, took Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse out on patrol on Friday night (26 November) to show him first hand the work they have been carrying out in the area since they began patrolling back in May.

The 40-strong team works alongside other Westminster officers from Safer Neighbourhoods and response teams to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the area, with a particular focus on priority crimes for Soho, such as drug use, alcohol related crime and sexual offences.

Since their launch in May, the team of special constables has netted over 40 arrests, responded to over 220 emergency calls and conducted more than 60 licensing visits in the area.

During his visit the Deputy Mayor presented four members of the team with their Independent Patrol Status (IPS) certificates, which mean they are qualified to patrol effectively on their own. Officers attain IPS after a period of post-attestation coaching and training, during which they must demonstrate competence in various aspects of policing, including stops and searches, dealing with offensive weapons and incidents like domestic disputes and assaults.

Superintendent Adam Loxley, lead for policing in Soho, said: “Having a dedicated team of Special Constables in the area is a real asset. Soho is an incredibly busy and diverse area which brings with it some really challenging policing problems. The new Specials team means that we are able to have a larger police presence in Soho, focusing on the problems affecting the local community and having a positive impact on reducing crime.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Jarratt, Metropolitan Special Constabulary and Volunteers OCU Commander, said: “I am very pleased to see that more Westminster Specials have achieved Independent Patrol Status, which is the standard that all special constables work towards. It is crucial that all Specials become able to patrol alone. Initiatives like this one show the continued value that Specials add to community policing.”

Westminster Council cabinet member for Society, Families and Adult Services, Councillor Daniel Astaire, said: “We are very grateful to these men and women for volunteering their time to the community on the frontlines. They do important work alongside regular officers and our licensing teams as one of many ways we have to tackle drugs, binge drinking and other anti-social behaviour in the area.”

Deputy Mayor for Policing, Kit Malthouse, said: “I’ve really enjoyed meeting the fantastic Soho Specials team. I want to encourage as many people as possible to volunteer as Specials. They make our streets safer, they reassure the public, and they gain new skills. Specials find that volunteering boosts their confidence and their CVs and make London safer.”

The work of the Soho Specials will also support the wider SaferSoho Project, a joint initiative between Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. A number of initiatives have been rolled out during the summer and will continue in the area over the coming months. They include a new hi-tech radio system linking businesses, the police and the local CCTV control centre together to share information and intelligence about criminal activity.

Special constables are volunteer police officers. They have all the same powers and responsibilities and wear the same uniform as regular officers and volunteer 16 or more hours per month to support neighbourhood policing. This could involve carrying out foot and vehicle patrols, assisting at accidents, providing security at public events or taking part in “hotspot” operations. To find out more and to apply visit www.metpolicecareers.co.uk/specials