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Met special constables wear the same uniform as regular police officers and have the same powers
A radical proposal to change the way Metropolitan police officers are recruited is being considered by the capital's police authority.
The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) is being asked to endorse plans to recruit most officers from its pool of volunteer special constables.
Other applicants would have to have qualifications in law and policing.
The Met Police says that this new recruitment model would save £2m for every 100 appointments.
At present, police recruits are paid at least £23,000 during their first two years. The receive 25 weeks of foundation training regardless of previous qualifications and gain on-the-job experience.
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The Met's new recruitment model involves the majority of applicants working for 18 months as volunteers. They will receive development and training opportunities.
The force's special constables wear the same uniform as regular police officers, have the same powers and responsibilities, and commit to work 16 hours a month unpaid.
Police community support officers (PCSOs) and people who cannot become special constables can apply to join once they have a recognised qualification in law and policing.
PCSOs are not police officers and do not have powers of arrest.
The Met Police also wants to change the way it advertises jobs, from "generic, lengthy ongoing campaigns" to "discrete, time-limited recruitment campaigns".
According to the briefing paper for the MPA: "The proposal will result in significant cash savings, improve local service provision and provide participants with a range of transferable skills."
The MPA meeting is due to take place at 1000 BST in central London.
Similar recruitment schemes have been piloted or are being considered by forces including Surrey, Lancashire and Greater Manchester Police.
The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says it is understood a review of police training in England and Wales, ordered by the home secretary, will call for a pre-entry qualification for all recruits, as there is in nursing.
There are almost 144,000 police officers across the 43 forces in England and Wales.
In addition, there are 17,000 PCSOs and about 15,000 special constables who provide additional resources for the police, such as at major public events.
Like other government departments, the Home Office - which funds the police - could be facing cuts of about 25%. The exact level will not be known until the current spending review is published in October.
Many forces have already announced job losses and recruitment freezes.
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Met special constables wear the same uniform as regular police officers and have the same powers A radical proposal to change the way Metropolitan police officers are recruited is being considered by the capital's police authority.
The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) is being asked to endorse plans to recruit most officers from its pool of volunteer special constables.
Other applicants would have to have qualifications in law and policing.
The Met Police says that this new recruitment model would save £2m for every 100 appointments.
At present, police recruits are paid at least £23,000 during their first two years. The receive 25 weeks of foundation training regardless of previous qualifications and gain on-the-job experience.
Related stories
The Met's new recruitment model involves the majority of applicants working for 18 months as volunteers. They will receive development and training opportunities.
The force's special constables wear the same uniform as regular police officers, have the same powers and responsibilities, and commit to work 16 hours a month unpaid.
Police community support officers (PCSOs) and people who cannot become special constables can apply to join once they have a recognised qualification in law and policing.
PCSOs are not police officers and do not have powers of arrest.
The Met Police also wants to change the way it advertises jobs, from "generic, lengthy ongoing campaigns" to "discrete, time-limited recruitment campaigns".
According to the briefing paper for the MPA: "The proposal will result in significant cash savings, improve local service provision and provide participants with a range of transferable skills."
The MPA meeting is due to take place at 1000 BST in central London.
Similar recruitment schemes have been piloted or are being considered by forces including Surrey, Lancashire and Greater Manchester Police.
The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says it is understood a review of police training in England and Wales, ordered by the home secretary, will call for a pre-entry qualification for all recruits, as there is in nursing.
There are almost 144,000 police officers across the 43 forces in England and Wales.
In addition, there are 17,000 PCSOs and about 15,000 special constables who provide additional resources for the police, such as at major public events.
Like other government departments, the Home Office - which funds the police - could be facing cuts of about 25%. The exact level will not be known until the current spending review is published in October.
Many forces have already announced job losses and recruitment freezes.
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.