Boris Johnson the Mayor of London has welcomed the numbers of Met Police Specials helping to make the capital’s streets safer.
More than 5,000 people in London are now volunteering as a Special, putting the city well on course to achieving the Mayor’s target of 6,667 by the 2012 Games. Specials have the same powers as regular officers, wear the same uniform and get involved in all the day-to-day policing issues in the capital. The only difference is that Specials are unpaid volunteers who give up their time – 16 hours a month- to help others and make a real difference to life in London.
Speaking ahead of a Talk London event addressing Community and Quality of Life in Bexley, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: ‘Specials do a fantastic job and I am constantly impressed by the extraordinary commitment these wonderful people have to making London a safer city for us all. They provide a reassuring presence across the capital as well as being a vital link between the police and local communities.
‘I am calling on all Londoners who have a hankering to do something different and fulfilling to sign up and join the legions of volunteers, who through Team London, are working together to tackle some of the cities major social issues.’
The Mayor has plans to encourage more Londoners to get involved in their local communities and improve quality of life in the capital. Team London is a programme aimed at mobilising around 10,000 Londoners to create community spirited volunteers focusing in the three priority areas of cutting crime, improving the quality of life and increasing youth opportunities.
Gurcharan Singh SDesi MBE, the Met’s longest serving Asian Special Constable based in Bexley said: ‘I have spent more than half my life at the Met and I love it. I really enjoy helping young people and the community and would encourage everyone to give volunteering a go, it’s the best thing ever.’
