Ministers have revealed that Police volunteers will be deployed in cases of terrorism and child sexual abuse as it legislates for the role this week.

Labour will force a vote in the Commons on Tuesday to commit the Government to protecting the Police budget before new rules to recruit volunteers can be used.

The amendments would also block Government plans to give volunteers the same powers as Constables and prevent unpaid officers from attending scenes where force, restraint or CS spray may be required.

Labour will call for the safeguards amid concerns over reductions to the Police budget and the number of front-line officers.

In answer to a Labour parliamentary question on limits for the volunteer role, the Home Office Minister failed to rule out in full their use in cases of counter-terrorism or child sexual abuse.

Last month, the head of the UK Statistics Authority confirmed that the Government grant to the Police had fallen by £160 million in real-terms this financial year despite the Chancellor’s commitment to protect the budget in the Spending Review. Since 2010, the number of front-line Police officers has fallen by 12,000.

The Policing and Crime Bill returns to the Commons on Tuesday.

Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, said:

“There’s a proud tradition of the public volunteering with the Police, but not replacing them. Labour is calling time on this plan - the Government cannot cut the Police budget and ask the general public to take the jobs.

"Just when security concerns are paramount, they have hatched a plan for thousands of volunteers to attend even the most serious cases. Public safety is at risk if the Police cannot mount experienced officers in the event of an attack. 

"David Cameron and Theresa May need telling - you simply can’t have policing on the cheap.”

 Ends

Notes to editors 

1.   Written Parliamentary Question response from the Home Office: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2016-04-14/34022/

 2.   Policing and Crime Bill, clause 35 on workforce and volunteers: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2015-2016/0158/cbill_2015-20160158_en_7.htm