Special Constable (Volunteer Police Officer)

Volunteering as a Special Constable is the best way to take a stand against crime and anti-social behaviour in local communities. You have the same powers as a regular officer and you work side-by-side with them to police the streets. You will get full training and support to enable you to reach your full potential as a Special Constable.

Giving up your spare time to help others will provide plenty of benefits to you too, not least the skills, experience and self – confidence you’ll develop on the front line. The minimum commitment is only four hours a week.

Is it for me?

Do you like being involved with people? Are you looking for the kind of voluntary work that actually brings you into contact with basic human problems? Would you enjoy working as a responsible and respected member of a closely knit and well organised team? If so, Thames Valley Police will be glad to welcome you as a Special Constable.

What will my duties be?

Most of your duties will be on uniform patrol, either on foot or by car. There will also be occasions when you will be asked to assist with the policing of public events, both large and small, where you will patrol and perform traffic control duties to help maintain the safety of the public.

We understand that most Special Constables have a full time occupation and that, from time to time, you will not be able to carry out duties every week. So, we ask for a minimum commitment of 18 hours per month, but it is up to you what hours you choose to work to make up that time. However, we ask that your duties are agreed in advance so the best use can be made of your valuable time.

We are keen to recruit people with a wide range of skills and experiences and an understanding of cultural issues. We are particularly encouraging people to join us from black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities who are under represented in the Force.

How do I apply?

Before submitting an application you must complete the Special Constable Self Assessment Questionnaire. If you have any queries after completing the questionnaire please contact the recruitment team for advice.

If you are eligible to apply please click on the 'Apply' button below to start your application.

Eligibility – to apply for a role as a Special Constable you must:

Age - be at least 17 years of age
Citizenship - be a British citizen, or an EC/EEA national with Pre-Settled/Settled status, or a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national with Indefinite Leave to Remain and no restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom
Residency - have been a UK resident for the last three years. There are some exceptions (e.g. periods of travelling/working overseas, armed forces etc.) which will be considered on a case-by-case basis
Criminal Record - not have served any period of imprisonment or youth detention. If you have a criminal record or conviction, it may lead to your application being rejected. We will take into account factors including the date and nature of the offence, plus evidence of good character since the offence
Health - be in good health and able to physically and mentally perform the duties of a Police Officer once appointed.
Personal - not have any piercings or tattoos which could cause offence
Location - live within 20 crow miles of a police station.

Precluded occupations: You should be aware that there are some jobs, which are known as “precluded occupations”. These are roles where there is potential for a conflict of interest to arise between the job and the role of Special Constable. Such as bar work, door staff, armed forces personnel, security work, any role in the criminal justice sector. This is not a definitive list and if you have any queries, you should contact the recruitment department to discuss.

Please Note:

You should only apply to one Special Constable vacancy at a time. Duplicate applications will be withdrawn.

If you already have a live application with TVP you should not apply again. If you wish to change your posting preferences please contact the recruitment team.

If you would like to apply as a Transferee or Rejoiner, please contact the Special Constabulary Recruitment Team using the email address given below.

Recruitmentspecialco@thamesvalley.police.uk

Thames Valley Police reserves the right to close the vacancy early with 24 hours notice if the number of applications is likely to exceed the required number given the current vacancies. This will be done to ensure candidates who have applied can be quickly and efficiently moved through the recruitment process.

Applicants who currently have (or have at a later date) a live Police Officer application with Thames Valley Police will find that their Specials application will be withdrawn.

We are looking to recruit to specified Local Policing Areas (LPA) only and as such applicants are required to live within 20 crow miles of a police station within that LPA. Applications will not be progressed from applicants who live more than 20 crow miles away. If you do not live within 20 crow miles and believe you have a valid reason to be considered e.g. moving to the area, please contact the Recruitment Team for advice before applying.

Once you have applied for the role you will need to check the e-recruit system on a regular basis for updates on your application.

If you are already employed by Thames Valley Police you must have passed your probationary period in order to undertake the additional role of Special Constable. Applications will be withdrawn if applicants are unable to meet the above eligibility criteria.