Volunteer officers lead from the front in Southend takeover

On Saturday 18 July, our dedicated volunteer police officers, known as Special Constables, once again gave up their free time to support regular officers and help keep Southend safe.

In a planned Special Constabulary “takeover”, the team of Specials led the local policing response during a busy late shift, providing high-visibility patrols across Southend, dealing with a wide range of incidents—proving once again that they are a vital part of our operational frontline.

Throughout the shift, the Special Constabulary dealt with a series of incidents including:

There were 3 arrests: a warrant, for ABH and for GBH.

Other key incidents dealt with included:
- 2 disturbances
- 1 domestic violence
- 1 public order offence
- 1 mental health incident
- 1 offensive weapon incident
- 1 theft
- 1 high-risk missing person enquiry

In addition to neighbourhood-based responses, the team were joined by a Roads Policing Unit volunteer officer, allowing them to deal with two road-related incidents, including a collision with injuries.

Special Chief Inspector Samantha Wright said:
This takeover shift is a great example of how our Special Constables continue to deliver real policing, handling a diverse range of incidents and keeping communities safe.
Their professionalism and dedication are equal to our regular officers, and they bring added value with their wider life experience.

Special Constables are fully trained, warranted officers who carry the same powers, uniform, and equipment as regular police officers. What makes them unique is that they serve voluntarily, fitting shifts around day jobs, family life, and other commitments.

Many of our Specials bring valuable transferable skills from their “other lives”—from teaching and healthcare to business and engineering. These skills, combined with their police training, make them confident, capable officers who can offer reassurance, de-escalate tensions, and safeguard the vulnerable.

On the night, one volunteer officer said:

Being a Special Constable allows you to make a real difference: it’s incredibly rewarding and gives you the chance to give something back to your community.

There are many volunteer opportunities available at Essex Police, whether it’s serving your community as a Special Constable, providing crime prevention advice to your neighbours as an Active Citizen or supporting young people as part of our Volunteer Police Cadets scheme. Find out more or register you interest on our volunteers page.

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