SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL CONSTABLES

That this House urges that special constables be supported by local authorities through discounts on or exemptions to their council tax; notes that this idea is fully supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers and has been trialled in the form of a 100 per cent. rebate by Southampton City Council; congratulates the 696 special constables in Essex and the 14,251 special constables in England and Wales on their dedication and service; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals to provide a power to local authorities to exempt special constables from paying council tax, or to give them a substantial discount.