News From Rupi Dhanda, Labour’s Pcc Candidate For Gloucestershire 'exempt Special Constables From Council Tax,' Says Rupi.

Labour’s Candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner, Rupi Dhanda, has pledged to fight for all of Gloucestershire’s 200 volunteer police officers (Specials) to be exempted from council tax. The measure will not just boost recruitment at a time when the number of officers is being cut by 10%, it will help retain the Specials who are struggling to make ends meet as the financial squeeze continues on household incomes.

Rupi said: "I am making this pledge today after listening to the concerns of Special Constables. Last year our 200 Specials contributed over 50,000 hours of policing, and yet many have families and are finding it harder to commit time as the financial squeeze has set in. This measure will save us money through better recruitment, retention and crime reduction, as other parts of the country have found.

At a time of horrendous cuts to frontline policing we must go beyond the hollow pledge of Cameron's Big Society. This measure will do that, and demonstrate our backing to this important group of volunteers. But let's make no mistake, there is no substitute for our full time officers, and my number 1 priority will be to oppose the cuts to nearly 200 full-time officers.

Rupi’s pledge has been adopted by the Labour Party in Gloucestershire and will form one of their key policies in next year’s County Council elections.”

Cllr Steve McHale, Leader of the Labour Group on the County Council said: "Rupi has got it right. Her pledge to exempt Special Constables from Council Tax will also be a Labour pledge in the County Council elections in May. It is a 'spend to save' measure which has worked in places like Southampton. We will more than recoup the costs of the policy with a higher profile presence on our streets to tackle crime. We have to try to find a way to reduce the impact of the Tories' 25% cuts to frontline policing in Gloucestershire, and the dire consequences to community policing."

ENDS