Special Constabulary

Find out more about becoming a Special Constable at one of our information events. 

Help prepare for your Special Constable interview by attending one of our online interview workshops.

Important information

Essex Police will not send confirmation of this application. However, you will be sent a link, via email, on the morning of the event enabling you to join your chosen workshop.

The details that you submit will be kept by Essex Police for two years. After this time they will be deleted from our records.

If you wish for your details to be deleted earlier, please email with the date and time of the workshop you attended and your details will be deleted.

Please check back if these dates are not suitable as further dates will be added.

• Help make our communities safer by supporting our police officers and staff.
  
  
• Improve public confidence and support victims by detecting and investigating crime.
  
  
• Provide an important link between the public and Essex Police to improve communication with communities
  
  
• Assist the force with many aspects of policing. From high-visibility patrols to traffic operations, counter-terrorism and community safety.
  
  
• Help make Essex a safer place. Work with colleagues to bring those responsible for crime to justice. From arrest through to conviction.

• You will make a difference to people and their communities.
  
  
• You'll build your confidence.
  
  
• You'll develop new skills in a unique and challenging role.
  
  
• You'll have opportunities for promotion in a rank structure that mirrors regular officers.
  
  
• You'll have funded access to the Police Federation.
  
  
• You can sign up for a Blue Light card, which gives you discount from thousands of retailers.
  
  
• You're reimbursed for expenses. This includes cost of travel (by car or public transport) to your home station (40 mile limit) and during training,. You're also reimbursed for parking costs and subsistence on shift too.
  
  
• You'll have opportunities to progress in specialist roles too. This could be within our Roads Policing Unit, Investigative Teams, Dog Section, Marine Unit or specialist Airport teams.
  
  
• You'll have the chance to complete response, pursuit and public order training. As well as advanced driver training and detective accreditation.
  
  
• You'll have access to body worn video cameras and a work mobile device too.

• You need to be at least 17-years-old at the point of application. If you are 17, you can go through the recruitment and selection process, but will not be able to start until you have turned 18.
• You will need to complete, on average, 16 operational hours a month. You'll also need to complete two more hours a month through engagement training and associated development processes.
• You will need to meet the required fitness standard.
• And you'll need to commit to the initial 27 days of training.

You must be able to answer 'Yes' to the following statements:

1. I hold a UK passport or am a British Citizen, member of the EC or other states in the European Economic Area. If you are a Commonwealth Citizen or a foreign national, you must be resident in the UK free from restrictions and with indefinite leave to remain in the UK
   
   
2. I have lived in the UK continuously for the last three years. This does not apply to those serving abroad with the British Armed Forces
   
   
3. I am 17 years old or older at the point of application. If you are 17, you can go through the recruitment and selection process, but will not receive an offer of employment until you have turned 18
   
   
4. I have not been unsuccessful in an application for the same role with any home office force in the last six months

Additional notes

• Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals can also apply if you have leave to enter or remain in the UK indefinitely and you're free of restrictions
  
  
• there are no height restrictions for those wishing to join us

Policing is not easy. Not only do you need determination and drive but you also need to be as healthy as possible and have a good level of fitness.

Medical

Some medical conditions can prevent you from being able to cope with the physical and mental demands of the job. 

To find out more please view our health and fitness FAQs as well as the the HM Government medical standards information which provides full details on which illnesses, injuries and disorders will affect your ability to perform the role of a police officer.

Fitness

You will be required to run a 15 metre track in time with bleeps which get increasingly faster. You need to meet level 5.4 on the bleep test to be successful.

If you fail on your first attempt don't worry. You're allowed two more attempts within 12 weeks (second attempt after six weeks, third attempt six weeks later). If after the third attempt you are not successful, we will be unable to continue with your application.

Find out more on the College of Policing website.

Ideally, you shouldn't have a criminal conviction or cautions record. If you do have one, eligibility will depend on the age and nature of the offence.

We're unable to confirm whether your convictions record will affect your application before you apply but will determine this from information provided during the recruitment and selection process.

If you don't tell us about any cautions, investigations or criminal convictions that may be linked to you at an early stage, your application could be refused simply because you weren't open and up front, whereas it might have been accepted if you were.

If in any doubt, disclose the information.

For more information please view the vetting guidance.

It's important that you're not under pressure from un-discharged debts or liabilities and that you can manage loans and debts sensibly.

You will not qualify for vetting clearance if you:

• have existing county court judgments (CCJs) outstanding
  
  
• have been registered bankrupt and have not discharged your bankruptcy. Applicants will not be considered until three years after the discharge of the debt. Debt Relief Orders (DRO) are treated in the same way as bankruptcy
  
  
• if you refuse to discuss a relevant matter or engage with the vetting process

For more information please view the vetting guidance.

You will be required to undertake a substance misuse test.

If you are using illegal drugs you will be ruled out of the recruitment process automatically.

Once you have carefully read all the information on this page you can complete an application to join the Essex Police Special Constabulary.

Medical standards

Please read our medical FAQs for more information about the medical standards required for this role. Each case is always reviewed individually and candidates will never be excluded automatically on the basis of a medical condition or disability.

The HM Government website also has detailed information on medical standards including which illnesses, injuries and disorders will affect your ability to perform the role of a police officer - these also apply to Specials.

If you are eligible you need to complete the initial application so we can invite you to the next stages.

Our business Services team will conduct eligibility checks and send links to complete the National Sift process through the College of Policing.

You will have the option of either a face to face interview or virtual interview (evenings). The interview is based around the Competency Values Framework.

During this stage, you will need to attend a medical examination, provide DNA and fingerprints, provide further information about yourself (and family members), attend a uniform fitting and complete a fitness test (level 5.4 on a 15m bleep test).

To become a Special Constable, you must undertake 27 days of classroom based training before you can be attested. We currently offer two types of training sessions:

Intensive - Monday to Friday for five weeks and two days. 
Alternate Weekends - Every other Saturday and Sunday for 26 weeks

Please note that availability for each course may vary depending on the number of applicants.

We’re giving you an exclusive insight into the training course our Special Constables embark on to equip them with full policing powers.

After your 20 days of training, you will be attested in front of a Magistrate and receive not only your warrant card, but also your full policing powers and the start of your adventure as a Special Constable.

Have a question? Please contact us.