MP Bob praised by Police Minister

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Jul 2007

A Home Office Minister has praised Colchester MP Bob Russell for being the "driving force" behind the introduction in the town of a new scheme whereby Special Constables are recruited from shops and businesses with the support of their employers.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Minister Ms Meg Hillier MP congratulated both Mr Russell and participating stores plus Colchester Borough Council. Last week six Special Constables were sworn in at a ceremony at Colchester Town Hall, the first in Essex under the Special Constabulary Employer Supported Learning Scheme.

Encouraging other towns and Police Forces to follow the Colchester example, the Minister added: "The best advert for the project is a successful scheme, as well as the hard work that Mr Russell has put into highlighting it. I shall be watching with interest."

Mr Russell, who is a Liberal Democrat member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, congratulated the Government on introducing the scheme and told the Commons that employers should be thanked for allowing staff to join the ShopWatch scheme.

"I urge the Minister to encourage every Police Force to introduce it. It is the best news that we have had for Special Constables, with the first six in Essex joining last week, in Colchester."

Afterwards Mr Russell explained that he had urged Colchester Police to introduce the ShopWatch scheme, or Business Specials as they have been dubbed locally, after he had attended a presentation at the House of Commons given by the Metropolitan Police who had piloted the concept.

"I could see immediately what a brilliant concept this is. Businesses who encourage staff to become Special Constables get the benefit of having one or more of them on call should the need arise, and the wider community benefits when in their own time they volunteer to undertake policing duties with the rest of the Special Constabulary. I hope that other shops and businesses will also encourage members of their staff to become Special Constables."