Council to consider tax breaks for police volunteers

Southend Tories want to cut council tax for volunteer police workers

Councillors are to consider whether volunteers who sign up to become police special constables should get council tax discounts or even exemptions.

Opposition Conservative members on Southend City Council have put forward the motion, which they say is in response to recent disorder.

In July, video footage showed youths wielding machetes on the seafront and in the city centre, at a time when there were riots elsewhere in the country.

Part of the motion, which will be heard at a full council meeting on Thursday evening, reads: "Recent events, both locally and nationally, have reinforced the need for Southend to have sufficient police officers to be deployed at times of heightened need."

'Offer reassurance to our residents'

Essex Police currently has more than 250 serving specials, the second-largest figure in England and Wales, but has been looking to recruit more.

The motion says the council made a commitment to help recruit 34 special constables in 2019, before the Covid pandemic struck.

While the authority has no responsibility for the recruitment of special constables, who are unpaid, it did sign up to a scheme that enabled council staff to get paid time off to undertake police duties or attend training.

The Conservatives, who are in opposition to a Labour administration, say the council needs to "reinvigorate" its 2019 commitment, adding: "This will mean there are more police officers deployable for major events, protests, times of high footfall and to offer reassurance to our residents".

Costs of any change in policy have not yet been debated, but those living in a Band D property in Southend currently pay £2,042 a year.

The Conservative motion also calls for a joint recruitment campaign with the force and discussions with local transport companies about discounted travel for special constables.