In the know

Do something Special this Christmas

Special Constables (SC) are regular people who often have a career or responsibilities outside of policing yet choose to commit 16 hours a month or more to keeping their community safe, while experiencing a change in pace from their life outside of that.

We are proud to have a workforce consisting of many amazing people in varied roles, including Special Constables.

There are many reasons why people decide to do this volunteer role. You may have free time and have a desire to give something back to your community; you might be happy in your present job but want to do something completely different in your spare time or you may have wanted to work in the police but for different reasons you have gone down a different career path.

Special Constables have the same powers (including arrest) as regular officers, they wear the same uniform and often work alongside each other. Many of our Special Constables enjoy the change of pace that this voluntary role provides them with, whilst being able to maintain their existing career outside of policing. Take SC Snipp for example.  

SC Bullen is also part of our Special Constabulary, and we recently caught up with him to find out more.

🚓 Q: Can you share a memorable experience you’ve had since joining Surrey Police?

👮A: A stand-out for me is the time I was able to spend a shift with NPAS (National Police Air Service) riding along in the police helicopter. My day job is in aviation, so seeing the two worlds of flying and policing come together, alongside how the team work to support policing operations from the sky, definitely made for an amazing shift.

🚓 Q: How do you balance your life outside of policing with being a Special?

👮A: Flexibility is the key. I work shifts for my day-job, so I keep my options open by volunteering with several different response teams. Once I know my roster, I can then plan my police shifts and social life around that, filling in the gaps. The commitment is 16 hours a month but when and how you achieve those hours is up to you.  

🚓 Q: What skills do you think you have gained or improved since joining?

👮A: The first aid and personal safety skills training gave me the confidence that I could deal with anything I was faced with, whether that was somebody with a serious injury, or someone who was looking to confront me.  These skills are - thankfully - not needed too frequently, but every shift you use and develop the skill of communicating with people and building a rapport with them

🚓 Q: What advice would you give someone that was thinking of applying to be a Special?

👮A: Two words: "Do it". If you're even remotely interested in policing or the challenges and opportunities the role can bring, then go for it, it will open your eyes to a world you've never seen. You may have doubts as to whether it's for you, but my intake had a whole range of different character types from a varied set of backgrounds, and everybody found their place. 'Policing' covers such a wide range of different roles, and every team needs a mix of personalities and experiences to work well.  

Being a Special Constable is more than just a volunteer role – it's an opportunity to make an impact while gaining valuable skills and experiences.  

Are you, or do you know someone ready to do something Special? Applications are now open. Visit Special Constable (Volunteer Police Officer) to find out more.