Further updates! Cheshire Specials - Stinger, Medic imminent. Suffolk Specials - PIP2. Lincs Specials - Stinger. I'd really like to keep this up to date. docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Sc Headcount is 5818. 512 down on last year. 4221 down on 5 years ago. 10974 down on 10 years ago. 14525 down since it's peak in 2012. I don't think there is anything to say that hasn't been said already by hundreds of people, hundreds of times. It's time to change, but how?

I would estimate we're 2-3 weeks from the published headcounts. While it covers everything I'm particularly interested in SCs (obviously) and non-officer roles. They tell a different story for the most part. www.gov.uk/government/c...

It's a real shame what happened to Specials in PSOS. They could have an impact that is much larger than their numbers would indicate. Due to how long it has been I suspect a rebuild of SCs in Scotland would be long and expensive now. news.stv.tv/scotland/spe...

I have been assisting a former SC with building a website for UK policing more along old fashioned bulletin board (BBS) lines. Do we think it would be worth a punt?

We're about a month off the updated workforce figures. Specials are fewer in number now, there are supposed to be 3000 new SC recruits in the pipeline. I'm hoping for a levelling off at least, but from previous figures I'd guess we're about 5800 now. www.gov.uk/government/c...

It seems @mpsspecials.bsky.social have made their way here. I'll be following any forces that do the same if/when they arrive. Has anyone started a list of SC related content yet?

If you want positive change, you need to put in place leaders who will drive it. Someone saying everything is fine when it's obvious to everyone there are big problems isn't the leader you require. Failure to address problems is an acceptance are part of the problem.

Well, we're here. Over the next few days we'll be expanding our follows and posting. I don't expect UK Police to come rushing over here, the glacial pace of forces on things like this is something we're all familiar with.