Policing
LOOKING AT BECOMING A SPECIAL CONSTBALE ALONGSIDE YOUR STUDIES?
Special constables have the same power, uniform and responsibilities as regular (paid) police officers but volunteer on a part-time basis.
Specials – as they are known – come from all walks of life and backgrounds bring a diverse range of skills and experience to the role. They volunteer a minimum of sixteen hours per month to support local policing.
Being a special constable is not easy. You will be faced with challenging and confrontational situations that most people will never come across in their lifetime. But the rewards can vastly outweigh the challenges. You will gain confidence and new skills, work with a team of equally amazing people, and ultimately, you will have helped people in need or made their life better.
There are over 12,000 Special Constables in the UK in every Home Office police force.
What does a Special Constable do?
Ensuring public safety:
Assisting at the scene of accidents, fires or incidents, helping to control situations and ensuring that people are safe.
Providing security and crowd control at major public events – preventing injuries and disorder.
Preventing crime:
Carrying out high-visibility foot patrols to deter and detect criminals.
Educating businesses and the community about crime and how to avoid it.
Talking to school children about crime reduction and community safety to help them stay safe and make the right choices.
Tackling crime:
Confronting anti-social behaviour on the streets such as gangs or intimidating behaviour.
Managing alcohol-related incidents such as public drunkenness or violence.
Enforcing road safety laws in local communities.
Investigating crime:
Conducting house-to-house enquiries to gather information and support larger enquiries.
Involvement in police operations to disrupt and arrest offenders.
Visiting victims of crime to gather evidence to progress an investigation.
Securing conviction:
Write your own statements, use Police systems and present evidence in court to support the justice system in prosecuting offenders.
See a different world:
Out on patrol, you will deal with situations and people you would probably never encounter in your day-to-day life. Most of all, you will get to see the real impact of crime on people’s lives and the extraordinary power you have as an individual to make a real difference. Being a Special is both exciting and rewarding and for many it is a life changing decision. Whatever your plans, you will find working as a member of the police service, alongside regular officers of all ranks, police staff and other volunteers, an exciting and rewarding experience.
Watch this video to gain an insight into the role:
If you require any additional information or guidance, please do not hesitate to email the society. So we can best help and support you.
"Being a special constable has enhanced my learning and development during my time at university. I have been given many opportunities to further my growth and knowledge in policing" - Emile Hawkey: Previous student and past society president
