National Service Plan ‘Fraught With Issues’

The Conservatives’ national service plan includes becoming a Special Constable, but that would be “fraught with issues”, Hampshire Police Federation has said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently announced that a future Conservative Government would bring back national service, meaning every 18 year old would be in a full-time military role or spend one weekend a month volunteering in ‘civil resistance’, which includes being a Special Constable.

Hampshire Police Federation Chair Zoë Wakefield said: “I can see why Rishi Sunak has had this idea, but it’s fraught with issues and the devil’s in the detail.

“I’ve met lots of young people who, if they had to go and do national service in the military, it would probably be the best thing for them because they don’t really know what they want to do with their life and they need some direction. I think there are benefits to it.

“But being a Special Constable is very different to doing military national service. There would be advantages to it, but it would need a lot of work.”