Becoming a Special Constable

Be part of something BIGGER!
Thank you to everyone who applied to our most recent Special Constable recruitment campaign. For updates and reminders of the timeline for the recruitment process, please check further down the page.
Please keep checking back on this page for details of future campaigns.
To register your interest please click the button below.
What are Special Constables?
Special constables are volunteer police officers who give their spare time to police their communities. This volunteer role gives you the chance to work alongside regular police officers and staff, bring your life skills and experiences and give something back to this beautiful part of the world.
A welcome from our Special Constabulary Chief Officer Marc Kastner
"I am Marc Kastner and was appointed to the post of Chief Officer of Devon and Cornwall Special Constabulary in 2013 and I am immensely proud to lead Special Constables in the Force who all serve with pride and demonstrate their commitment to supporting their communities in each duty they perform. I studied Criminology at Portsmouth University and went on to study law at postgraduate level with Northumbria University."
When I joined in 1998 I was posted to Axminster and enjoyed my time working alongside regular response, neighbourhood officers and PCSOs giving my time to actively engage and support my community. I have worked throughout East Devon leading initiatives and supporting the invaluable working of making policing accessible. I am married to Carol, (a former Metropolitan police officer) and I have two sons. I also work for Devon County Council as a senior manager leading a range of education services supporting vulnerable children, young people and their families and schools."
Follow Marc on twitter for regular updates about our Special Constabulary via the button below.

Are you an honest, respectful, selfless and motivated person who wants to do something worthwhile in your spare time? Could you be there in someone’s time of need? Are you prepared to make a difference to people’s lives and protect the most vulnerable in our neighbourhoods?

What have our Special Constables been doing?
September 2022 - November 2022
Number of active officers
Total duty hours
Number of emergency incidents attended
Number of arrests made
Number of Road Traffic Collisions attended
Number of stop and searches
Special Constables trained in Emergency Response Driving
A workforce that reflects our communities
Our ability to build trust, understand problems and support our communities across a range of policing matters, relies on us having a workforce that is reflective of our communities and all the unique individuals that exist within them. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity within our workforce and to eliminating discrimination.
We are very keen to encourage applications from those that have never considered policing as a career. Representation within our workforce from black and minority ethnic communities and females is currently much lower than we want it to be; by improving this we will be better able to serve our local communities and our work place will benefit from all the differences in thinking, points of view, and approaches that diversity brings.
In order to achieve this we are proud to pursue a policy of ‘positive action’.
For further information and to register for this scheme please click the button below.
Our current recruitment timeline
The recruitment process can take several months and at times you may have questions or need more information. The recruitment team will guide you through the process and can be contacted for help at any stage.
We strongly recommend you attend as you will hear from serving Special Constables who will talk about their experiences of joining and serving as a Special Constable, as well as how they fit this unique volunteering opportunity into their home and working life. You will have the chance to ask them questions, as well as hear about the recruitment steps and training required.
If you meet the eligibility criteria you will be progressed to the next stage. If you do not pass this stage as a result of any of your answers, a member of the recruitment team will contact you.
Reasonable adjustments and Accommodations
You will be asked if you have a disability or learning difficulty, such as dyslexia or dyspraxia, which requires a reasonable adjustment. Every request is considered individually, reflecting our understanding that everyone has unique requirements. You may be asked for supporting information in the form of a medical or specialist’s report.
The two exercises, Situational Judgement Test (SJT) and Behavioural Styles Questionnaire (BSQ), are designed to assess your potential to perform effectively in the role of a Special Constable, and allow you to demonstrate your suitability to be invited to an interview.
No knowledge of policing or the role of a Special Constable is required to successfully complete this stage. A full explanation and examples can be found in the National Sift Candidate Guidance in the following link - here.
You will have 7 days to complete the assessments from the date you log on to AIMS.
If you are unable to attend the date we will try to arrange an alternative date for you.
There are no other assessments however, you will be required to attend for approximately 2 hours on the day of your interview . This is because we will ask you to provide a biometric vetting sample (hand and finger prints, and DNA swab) and complete a drugs test (further information below) as well as check your ID documents.
As a Special Constable you may find yourself in a variety of physically challenging situations. You will need strength and stamina to deal effectively with these situations as well as be able to defend yourself and others.
The fitness test is benchmarked against the aerobic demands of Personal Safety Training (PST) and comprises of an aerobic shuttle run test (15m Multi Stage Fitness Test – 15m MSFT at level 5:4).
For further information about the fitness test and some tips to help you prepare, please read our:
- BMI (Body Mass Index)
- Eye sight test
- Colour vision
- Lung function
- Hearing
We will carry out security checks on you and your partner's immediate family, including parents Children/children of your partner (age 10 years and over), and any other adult living at your address. Candidates will also have their financial status checked. These checks are carried out because Special Constables have access to privileged information, which may make them vulnerable to corruption.
Those with outstanding County Court Judgements (CCJs) or who have been registered bankrupt with outstanding debts, will be rejected. If you have discharged bankruptcy debts then you will need to provide a Certificate of Satisfaction with your application. At least three years will need to have passed since the date of discharge.
Applicants with cautions/convictions/reprimands, other than some motoring offences, may not be accepted but all are considered on a case-by-case basis. References – We request references from all your previous employers in the last 3 years. If you haven’t been in employment during the last 3 years, we will ask for a character reference or an educational reference.
Drugs Testing – As part of the Vetting process you will be required to undergo a drugs test. All processes are entirely confidential and only the presence of illegal substances will be disclosed to the Force Vetting Unit (by the third-party drug testing laboratory). Prescribed medication, including that for individuals with certain disabilities or individuals that may be transitioning, is not tested for in the process.