PLANS to put a special constable in every parish in Essex have been branded a “publicity stunt” by the county’s police union boss.

Mark Smith, chairman of the Essex Police Federation, said although the scheme is a “good idea”, any extra resources should be deployed in the correct way.

The plan was a cornerstone of the new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Roger Hirst’s manifesto.

He wants to double the number of special constables from 300 to 600 at a cost of about £1 million.

Mr Smith said: “My concern is that’s £1 million not well spent if these specials are going to be kept in parishes, where there may well be very, very little crime.

“It isn’t going to alleviate any pressure or workload from frontline officers.

“We have had to pull officers away from these rural areas for a reason, because it was a bad use of resources with the money we had.”

Mr Smith said wants to see the special constables helping full-time officers on the front line, offering protection for those who would otherwise be single-crewed.

He said: “It’s a political stunt to say: ‘Look we’ve got more police officers back in local areas and communities again.’

“The public, of course, want to see police officers walking the beat again, they want to see them on every corner.

“But that isn’t reality. We need to measure expectations and tell the public the truth – that it’s a bad use of resources.”

Mr Smith said that community support officers (PCSOs) would be better suited to working in local parishes, getting to know communities and gathering intelligence.

Mr Hirst said: “As recently as December 2010, there were 663 specials in Essex, so I see no reason why we cannot increase the number up from the present 350 or so officers.

“Essex Police has been good at recruiting and training specials but there has also been a high turnover, with a similar number of people leaving as joining in recent years.

“It is for Essex Police Chief Officers to determine where and how to deploy the special constabulary.”

Mr Smith said he would be raising his concerns with the PCC at the beginning of September, when they have a meeting scheduled.