Special Constables
Special constables, or ‘Specials’ as they are more commonly referred to, are volunteer police officers who have a unique opportunity to do something for their community.
They hold the same powers and responsibilities as ‘regular’ police officers and are very much on the frontline, working alongside their regular colleagues to prevent and detect crime, and protect the public.
Specials are a hugely valuable part of the policing workforce and often live in the communities they serve, making them uniquely positioned to understand local issues and build trust.
As a special constable you will be provided with full training, uniform, and out of pocket expenses – such as meal and mileage expenses – and have all the powers, authority and responsibilities of regular officers.
To apply for the special constabulary, the minimum age is 17 years old, but you must be 18 years old to be offered the role.
To be eligible for appointment, you must be a British citizen or resident in the UK free of restrictions (e.g. under the EU Settlement Scheme or through the UK’s post-Brexit points-based immigration rules).
If you are not a British citizen, you must provide proof during the recruitment process that you have no restrictions on your stay in the UK and that you have the right to work in the UK. Information on UK immigration rules can be found here – UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK
You will begin your journey with a training course where you will learn the basics of policing. Special constables are officially sworn in by a magistrate in the same manner as regular police officers, and will then be issued a warrant card.
After that you will sign up to shifts and work a minimum of 16 hours a month alongside regular and experienced officers to start working with the community and gain essential practical policing skills.
Once qualified for independent patrol, there are opportunities to specialise in other departments, such as road policing, investigations and neighbourhood policing.
Specials also work at football matches and other public events, such as galas and concerts, and support regular officers in times of emergency.
Why join the Special Constabulary?
People join the special constabulary for many different reasons. Some want to give something back to the community, others want to expand their skill sets and life experiences, and some are interested in joining the regular police force and want to know more about what police do.
The special constabulary offers the opportunity to experience all of this with the flexibility to fit around your personal and professional life.
Giving back to your community
- Support victims and witnesses by providing an initial response to their call for help
- Carry out high-visibility patrols to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour
- Make arrests to remove offenders and safeguard the public
- Gather intelligence on issues which affect communities, such as drug dealing
- Educate businesses and the community on how to reduce and prevent crime
- Assist at the scene of collisions, fires and other incidents
- Enforce road safety initiatives
- Provide assistance to the regular force at major incidents
Developing skills
- Develop your communication skills through dealing with different circumstances and people, often in difficult situations
- Develop your ability to analyse information quickly and think critically to solve problems
- Understand the law to be able to apply it safely and legally
- Develop lifesaving first aid and personal safety skills
- Develop team working skills
Play a vital role in policing
- Special constables have the same powers as every other police officer
- Special constables wear the same uniform and carry the same personal protective equipment as regular police officers
- Special constables provide much valued support to regular officers, often attending incidents together
- Special constables will work towards being able to perform duties independently, but will always be able to access support and supervision
- Special constables are an important link with communities
- Special constables can access specialist roles within policing, such as roads policing, investigations and licensing enforcement (opportunities vary by force)