Special Constables

If you can’t ignore community issues and want to take steps to prevent them, join us as a voluntary Police Officer.

Becoming a Special Constable (that’s what we call our voluntary Police Officers) is your chance to give something back in a unique way. Everything you do will be centred on looking after the community, from football supporters to motorists to businesses and residents. And you’ll be considered a vital, valued part of the force.

In terms of a volunteering opportunity, there’s simply nothing else like it. Unlike our paid PCSOs, whose role is more about being a visible, reassuring presence, our Special Constables do everything a regular police officer does, right in the front line alongside them. Routine patrols will take up around half your time, while the rest could see you tackle the full spectrum of activities such as attending scenes of crime or taking part in specialist operations.

We’ve even introduced a new initiative for people who want to specialise. We’ve started with rural officers who draw on their knowledge of farming and the countryside to look after residents and businesses there. We’re also creating more roles in areas such as economic crime. In all, it’ll add an extra dimension to an already inspiring role.

The role allows you to support and look after your own local community, not to mention learn skills and gain experience that could really enhance your career prospects in future. And you’ll be meeting new people every day – either colleagues around the station, or the general public.

You just need to be able to promise us 16 hours a month, which you can divide into four, six or eight hour shifts. You should have the same personal qualities as our regular officers, the most important of which is the desire to give something back to the community. You can be from any walk of life, as long as you’re under our upper age limit of 65.

Discover more about becoming a Special Constable. There’s truly no other volunteering opportunity like it, and the rewards will be with you for a lifetime.

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