Special Constables - Common questions

If you meet the standard eligibility criteria, then it is highly likely that your application would be welcomed. However, there can be several reasons why an individual is unable to join which can include nationality, age, fitness, financial status and criminal convictions (both of an application and those with whom they have a familial and/or close relationship).

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 must have continually been a resident in the UK for three years immediately before an application is made. This is to satisfy the requirement to vet all applicants in an equitable manner. If you have travelled overseas on a gap year or similar, we consider that to be on an extended holiday, and you have therefore maintained residency in the UK (generally considered 12 months or under).

Other basic requirements:

• You must be at least 17 years old at the point of application and 18 before you are appointed
• You should be in good health, and of good character
• You must be able to speak and write English competently
   

Yes. All applicants need to have resided permanently in the UK for a minimum of three years prior to applying, due to the challenges often faced with obtaining adequate vetting checks from abroad.

You must be at least 17 years old at the point of application, however you must have turned 18 before you are appointed. There is no upper age limit, but all applicants must be physically fit enough to perform the role.

Find out more about the fitness testing here - Police Medical and Fitness tests.

Special constables are required to commit to carrying out 16 hours per month. However, if your other commitments allow, you can do more than this.

Yes. When you attend your initial training, you will be guided as to the local arrangements, but usually you will organise your shifts with your colleagues, so they know when to expect you and include you in any team plans. Many forces have shift patterns which you would be expected to work within to ensure you are dealing with the issues which matter most to communities and the force.

On occasions you will be asked if you are available to work a specific shift to support an event or operation.

No. All uniform, training and equipment are provided free of charge. There is no salary payable, but expenses for travel to and from duty are refunded along with meal expenses in some circumstances.

Yes, there is a uniform that will be supplied.

Whilst some forces require specials to hold a full and clean UK / manual driving licence, this is not the case for all forces. We would recommend checking your local force’s website for more details about licence requirements before you apply.

Applicants to the special constabulary must be in good health and be both physically and mentally able to perform the duties of a police officer once appointed.

Successful applicants will be asked to fill in a medical questionnaire prior to appointment. You will also be asked to undertake a medical assessment which will generally be carried out by the force occupational health team, who will check your eyesight, colour vision, lung function and hearing. Eyesight requirements are outlined on the Government’s website here – Circular 007/2019: Eyesight standards, police recruitment - GOV.UK.

Depending on your medical history, further information may be sought from your GP/specialist. Once you have been declared medically fit, your application will be progressed to the next stage.
You will also be required to pass a physical fitness test known as the job-related fitness test. Details of the test can be found on the College of Policing website here - Job-related fitness standards | College of Policing.

Find out more about the fitness testing here - Police Medical and Fitness tests.
 

Whilst it varies between forces, typically you will be posted to a team close to where you live.

This will vary depending on which force you apply to join. You can check with your force before you apply.

Some roles are deemed to be incompatible with being a special constable.

In view of this, applicants who are employed in these capacities would not be eligible for appointment to the special constabulary. In addition, any serving special constable obtaining employment in an ineligible occupation should report to the chief constable and would be required to resign from the specials.

The list below provides some of the most common roles which would be ineligible, but please check with the force you are applying to.

• Armed forces personnel
• Traffic wardens, civil enforcement officers and school crossing patrols
• Neighbourhood and street wardens, and other uniformed patrol wardens
• Highways Agency Traffic Officers (those employed in an 'on-road' capacity are ineligible, those who are office-based may be eligible)
• Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)
• Members of employers’ police forces and private constabularies
• Certain roles concerned with the administration of the law including magistrates, judges, justices’ clerks and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) employees
• National Crime Agency (NCA) staff (some staff may be eligible depending on their designated powers)
• Members of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) may be considered for appointment as special constables in a different area to where they are a member of the OPCC, with permission of the OPCC and at the discretion of the Chief Officer
• Enforcement roles within the Home Office including Immigration Officers
• Occupations/interests where appointment as a special constable is at the discretion of the Chief Officer (and in some cases the employer):
  • Members of the armed forces reserves are eligible subject to their reserve commitments taking precedence over their policing duties
  • Members of the fire service are eligible subject to agreement between the Chief Officers of the police force and the relevant fire service
  • Occupations with client privilege are eligible at the discretion of the Chief Officer, and where necessary, subject to approval of the employer 
  • Members of medical and health professions are eligible provided their local NHS Trust or Health Authority has no objections
• Holders of premises or personal licences, designated premises supervisors, and licensees of betting/gaming premises
• Probation officers and youth and social workers involved in the administration of criminal law
• Bailiffs, warrant officers, private detectives and inquiry agents
• Employees of security organisations and security personnel, guards and door supervisors