Mayor Boris to flood capital with Olympic army of 10,000 police specials

Mayor Boris Johnson will today pledge £32million for a huge increase in the number of special constables on patrol during the Games.

About 700 "specials" have already been recruited in the last year, taking the number in London to 2,600.

The new officers' duties will include stop and search, foot and vehicle patrols and house-to-house inquiries. They will be part of the £1billion Olympic policing operation, with 5,000 officers working on event days to ensure the smooth running of the Games.

The Metropolitan Police Authority will provide most of the funding, while the Home Office will supply a 25 per cent contribution and also help to fund recruitment campaigns and training.

The money can also be paid to employers so specials can take paid leave for training and police patrols. Mr Johnson said: "I'd like to see a massive increase in numbers to 10,000 specials patrolling the capital's streets by the Olympic Games in 2012, and I am pleased that the Government is providing funding to make this a reality.

"Specials do a fantastic job and I am full of admiration for these wonderful people who give their time freely to help the Met make London a safer city.

"I'd encourage all Londoners who have a hankering to do something different or want to help their local community to train as a special."

Specials have the same powers as regular officers and wear the same uniform but are unpaid volunteers who work up to eight hours every fortnight. Applicants must be over 18 but youth workers, magistrates, private detectives and fire officers are among those not allowed to apply.

The new target is an expansion of an earlier Home Office pledge to recruit an extra 6,000 in England and Wales.

Labour policing minister Vernon Coaker said: "I am delighted we are contributing a significant proportion of the funding for the recruitment of 10,000 new Metropolitan Police special constables by 2012."

Tim Godwin, Acting Deputy Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police Service, said: "The Met has long valued the immense contribution and breadth of experience that specials bring to policing in London. MPS specials come from a variety of backgrounds, from accountants to graphic designers, from health workers to retail employees.

"Not only do these skills mean that people with diverse experience are contributing to policing, but people employed in other sectors can contribute directly to the safety and security of their community."

The Mayor was speaking at the launch of a new, nine-strong transport policing team in Harrow, part of his commitment to increasing the security of transport hubs in London.