Essex has the fastest growing Special Constabulary in England and Wales.
THE number of Specials working in Essex Police has risen sharply over the last year after a successful recruitment campaign resulted in a further 122 joining the ranks.
There are now 475 Specials in post. Out of the 43 forces in England and Wales, Essex saw the largest growth in numbers from March 2017 to March 2018. Together they contributed a total of 15,424 hours of policing in October.
Special Constables are volunteer police officers. They have the same police powers, uniforms and equipment as regular police officers but do not get paid. They are reimbursed for expenses.
Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner for Essex, Roger Hirst, said,
“The Special Constabulary is an extremely important part of every police force and makes a vital contribution to policing nationally. I am delighted that here in Essex we have been able to attract so many people into the role. Specials are a highly valued part of our policing family and I thank each and every one of them for the time they give to help keep people safe.”
To become a Special Constable, you must first pass competency and fitness tests and then a thorough vetting process will begin. Once cleared, candidates must complete 20 days of classroom based training before they can be attested. Two types of training sessions are currently offered:
Intensive – Monday to Friday for four weeks
Alternate Weekends – Every other Saturday and Sunday for 20 weeks
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 you have the skills, ability and professionalism to police the community fairly and impartially, you can visit the Essex Police website for further information and to download an application form: https://www.essex.police.uk/join-the-police/special-constabulary/
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