Be a force for good
Are you ready to put your skills to the test and help your community, while doing something rewarding? Learn more in our FAQs below.
Special Constables (or "Specials") are volunteer police officers with the same power as regular officers. Specials spend around 16 hours a month (200 hours per year) supporting the police to tackle crime in their communities. They work in partnership with regular officers and the wider policing family.
Specials are sworn officers and have the same powers as a Police Officer.
Specials take part in frontline policing work. They can spend much of their time on the streets doing intelligence-based patrols in crime hotspots, or, taking part in crime-prevention initiatives. This could mean anything from keeping town centres safe at night, to conducting house-to-house enquiries or helping prevent vulnerable members of the community from becoming victims of crime.
It is hard, demanding work - but from your first day on duty you will see the impact you are having. It is also extremely varied and you could easily find yourself doing any of the following;
- Ensuring public safety
- Preventing crime
- Tackling crime
- Investigating crime
- Securing convictions
The requirement is 16 hours a month and these hours are flexible around your work and home life. Its surprising how easy it is to fit in around your days. We have a number of companies that are signed up to ESP (Employee Supported Policing) which will allow you a set number of days a year for policing duties and or training.
Although they are not paid, Specials are provided with uniforms free of charge and are entitled to be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses.
Yes, you would be covered by the Force's insurance if you were injured on duty as a Special Constable.
You no longer require a driving licence to become a Special Constable.
We require you to do a bleep test which is to level 5.4 (equivalent to running 3 minutes and 30 seconds).
There is not currently a swim test.
You don’t need any qualifications to become a Special Constable.
The force has an obligation, as it is publicly funded, to ensure that training, uniform and subsistence costs are not inadvertently misspent, which can often be the case when a candidate has dual applications.
As a force we are supportive of helping candidates meet their career objectives but this cannot be at the expense of tax payers’ money. Therefore, you can complete the online parts of the Special Constable Recruitment process, including the National Sift process, however your application will then be paused until the outcome of your Police Officer application is known.
If you are successful we will wish you every success and close your Special Constable application. If unsuccessful, you will then be able to continue the Special Constable process and your application may be ‘Fast Tracked’ depending on which stage of the recruitment process you have reached.
Should you start your Police Officer application during the Special Constable process, simply let us know so we can pause your application until the outcome is known.
Yes it does. You will be asked within the Medical History Questionnaire to indicate, for example, if you have had anxiety/depression, phobias, mental breakdown or stress related problems.
Please be completely honest when answering these questions and do not be concerned if you find yourself answering ‘Yes’ to a lot of questions. This is quite normal and does not mean that you are unfit for the job.
You will attend a face-to-face medical appointment where you will submit your Medical History Questionnaire, even if you have ticked no for every question, this will be reviewed and possibly discussed with you.
We currently have multiple intakes a year and everyone who meets the standard will be offered a place.
Yes, this is provided and does include boots. The main items of uniform provided are; body armour, handcuffs, baton, black wicking shirts, black trousers, white shirt, black tie, belt, torch, water bottle, fleece, waterproof coat, utility jacket and vest.
Where possible we will always try and post you to your nearest station. However, organisational need is the priority with your home address taken into consideration.
You will be asked to submit a station preference as part of your pre-requisite checks.
Depending on what stage you are unsuccessful will determine when you can reapply. For example if you are unsuccessful at interview you will automatically be afforded a second attempt in 3 months.
At this time there is no fast track from the Special Constabulary to the role of Police Officer in either force, however becoming a Special Constable for a period of time will allow you to see if it is the right career for you and also to gain some great experience to take forward.
We do have a number of Officers who choose to do this route into the Police Office role but also we have a lot of Career Specials who stay with us as volunteers alongside their day job.
Devon and Cornwall Special Constable Training -
The training consists of an online distance learning phase lasting 19 weeks with a pass or fail final assessment. This is then followed by a practical phase lasting 9 weekends over a period of 4 – 5 months at Middlemoor, Headquarters, covering all relevant aspects of the role of a Special Constable. Overnight accommodation is provided for those who live over 30 miles from HQ.
You will then be attested and sworn in as a Special Constable. Your training and development then continues when you start at the Station.
Dorset Special Constable Training -
The training consists of 29 training days over 21 consecutive weekends covering all relevant aspects of the role of a Special Constable, this is between Winfrith, Headquarters and Ferndown Police Station. There is 40 hours of self-study to be undertaken at home.
You will then take part in assessed practical sessions and end of course exam to ensure you are safe and lawful to carry out accompanied patrol with a regular police officer. Finally you will attend a passing out ceremony at the end of initial training phase.
Once you have completed your initial training and completed your Police Action Checklist 1 (PAC1) this means you have reached accompanied patrol status. The length of time to complete this would depend on your hours, it can take 6-12 month, but you will be supported through it. Some Special Constables go on to complete PAC2 – Independent Patrol Status. There are opportunities after PAC1 to move into neighbourhood policing, roads policing, rural engagement and opportunities for other specialist roles continue to be explored.
There are no Special Constables in Firearms in Devon & Cornwall or Dorset at this time.
Some Special Constables align themselves with a response section and always work with that section, others prefer neighbourhood/community policing and work alongside the local neighbourhood team. If you are aligned to a section or a team, there is still the ability to get involved with different events or operations that are happening in your area.
Special Constables are eligible for basic driver training and this is usually available approximately 6-12 months after attestation, depending on the availability of courses.