Special Constabulary | Essex Police

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Special Constables are volunteer Police Officers. They have the same police powers, uniforms and equipment as regular Police Officers but sacrifice their free time on a voluntary basis, organising their busy personal lives, day jobs and other commitments around police duties. They do not get paid, but are reimbursed for expenses.

A Special in Essex is someone who will be valued, supported and integrated into the wider policing family. They’re someone who will learn new skills, see new things and make tangible differences to the lives of the public they serve. A Special in Essex is someone who makes new friends, sees life from new perspectives and upholds the law.

A Special Constable is an extraordinary person, a remarkable person, a special person. Join us and be that person.

Once you have carefully read all the information in our application guide, you can complete an application to join the Essex Police Special Constabulary. Once your application has been reviewed you may be invited to attend an assessment centre. Candidates who are successful at the assessment centre will advance to the next steps of the application process which will include a fitness test, vetting, a medical and reference checks.

We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you into one of the most fulfilling volunteer careers there is.

Apply now.

Thanks to Greater Anglia, Barbican Launderette, Southend Adventure Island, Greenwoods Hotel and Spa and Rayne Boxing Club for giving us filming venues free of charge.

Am I eligible?

To become a Special Constable you must:

Be a British, Commonwealth, European Economic Area (EEA) citizen or have an indefinate right to stay in the UK
Not have a criminal record but some minor offences may not exclude you
Be able to meet our required medical and fitness standards such as 5.4 on the Bleep Test, not taking anti-depressants currently or in the last 2 years and have a BMI range of 18-30
Have resided in the UK for a continuous period of three years immediately prior to the date of application

To join as a Special Constable, you must not:

Be registered bancrupt, subject to CCJs or IVAs
Omit to declare any offences or 'spent' convictions
Have defaulted accounts
Ideally not have been convicted or cautioned for a serious arrestable offence
Applicants who have received cautions, reprimands, formal warnings and final warnings will not be considered until a full five years from the date of the sanction

More about the role

What would I do?

Make our communities and its people safer by supporting the regular force
Improve public confidence and support victims by detecting and investigating crime
Improve communication with communities by providing an important link between them
Assist the force with many aspects of policing, from high-visibility patrols to traffic operations, counter-terrorism and community safety
Make Essex a safer place by working with colleagues to bring those responsible for crime to justice, from arrest through to conviction

What would I gain from being a Special?

Make a difference to communities and people
Build your confidence
Develop new skills in a unique and challenging role
Gain opportunities for promotion in a rank structure mirrored to the regulars
Explore opportunities to progress in specialist policing roles

What do I need to be a Special?

To be at least 18 years old at the start of your training
Commit to a minimum of 16 hours per month for operational duties plus mandatory training duties
Meet the required fitness standard
Commit to the initial training requirements of 20 days

For a full list of the entry criteria please view our application guide.

The process

Step 1 - Make an initial application

Before you apply, firstly you need to make sure you are eligible - you can do this by watching our 'Are you eligible' video above and checking the Am I eligible to become a Special Constable in Essex Police section of the application guide.

Medical standards

Please also visit HM Government for 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.

Step 2 - Attend an assessment centre

You will be invited to an assessment centre where you will need to complete a fitness test (level 5.4 on a 15m bleep test), competency based interview (based on the Policing Professional Framework) and four written exams. You will find out your results within two weeks from the date of attendance.

Step 3 - Pre-employment checks

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 an induction day.

Step 4 - Start your training

To become a Special Constable, you must undertake 20 days of classroom based training before you can be attested. We currently offer two types of training sessions:

Intensive – Monday to Friday for four weeks
Alternate Weekends – Every other Saturday and Sunday for 20 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.

SC Fient, a TV Producer by day, has just started our four-week intensive training course and will be chatting to us about each week of the training course. Watch his first weekly blog below and tune in every Friday to see how he is getting on.

Step 5 - Receive your warrant card

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.

Not sure yet?

Interested? Leave your details and our Team will get back to you

Ready? Begin your application

Special Constables are subject to the same Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Behaviour as regular officers, whether on or off duty.

Being a constable is a privilege and bestows significant powers and responsibilities; a volunteer Police Officer has the same powers as a paid Police Officer and that carries with it the same expectations in terms of standards and public service.

If you believe that you have the skills, ability and professionalism to police your communities fairly, impartially and with the necessary commitment then we’d welcome your application.

In your area

Be a Community Special Constable

You probably care most about the places where you walk, cycle or drive; where you exercise the dog, go for a jog, let your kids out to play or where you pop to the shops. You might have thought that you don’t see enough “Bobbies on the Beat” in these places? Well, why don’t you volunteer as a Community Special Constable and be that bobby?

We want a Special Constable in every community in Essex. We already have Specials working on local policing and community policing teams and across a number of specialist areas, but Community Special Constables are something new, something different, something that delivers visible policing at a really local level.

The majority of Special Constables will work in our main busy towns and cover large areas, responding to a wide variety of incidents and challenges. A Community Special Constable is more focussed, they dedicate their voluntary service to the area that matters most to them - their town or parish. In return the local council will pay the allowances and expenses of their officers and they’ll have a say in the issues that their local Specials deal with.

Community Special Constables will:

Be integrated into a Community Policing Team
Start and end their duty as close to their community as possible, potentially from another agency’s premises
Spend the majority of their time within the council area’s neighbourhoods.
Be visible and accessible in local communities on uniformed, foot or cycle patrol.
Help address local issues and priorities as informed by the local council and police intelligence-led tasking.
Patrol hot spots identified through intelligence or which have been deemed to be priority areas.
Respond to police-related incidents within the council area.
Engage with local communities and support further recruitment of Specials
Attend suitable local council meetings where available to do so
Have regard to the Council’s aims and objectives in their voluntary service.

Community Special Constables will get the same training as regular officers and will have to complete the same accreditation, but once they’ve got independent patrol status then they can really get committed to their local communities.

If you’re looking for breadth to your policing duties then applying as a generic Special Constable is probably best for you, but if you’re looking for depth, if you’re looking to make a dedicated difference to your own area, to problem solve, to build relationship and be recognised as a local peacekeeper then the Community Special Constable route might be best for you.

Select the following links for more information about becomming a Community Special Constable in your area.