Vacancy Information

By joining us as a special constable (or volunteer police officer), you will help us fight crime and protect people. Not only will you protect life and ensure public safety, but you will also help us to earn the trust and confidence of all our communities.

If you are looking for a unique and rewarding volunteer role and would like to join us for our next intake starting in April 2025, becoming a special constable could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Please note: Becoming a specials constable requires significant commitment to the initial training programme. Upon completion of this training, a regular commitment of at least 16 hours per month is expected. Applicants are therefore encouraged to consider this role as a long term voluntary position.

Chief Constables' Message

We really welcome your interest in joining our Police Force. It is a privilege to lead the teams in Surrey Police and Sussex Police who continuously work selflessly and tirelessly in order to keep people in our counties safe.

We are looking for talented and inspirational people who put the needs of the public at the heart of everything that they do and who want to make a difference. If you feel you are that person then we want to hear from you.

We wish you all the very best with your application.

Chief Constable Tim De Meyer & Chief Constable Jo Shiner

The Role & Key Responsibilities

Our special constables are volunteer police officers from all walks of life who dedicate their valuable spare time to policing our local communities in Surrey.

Based within each of our 11 boroughs in Surrey, our special constables wear the same uniform and have the same powers and responsibilities as our regular (paid) police officers.

There is no such thing as a typical shift. You could find yourself responding to 999 emergency calls or going out on patrol, making house-to-house enquiries, preserving scenes, or presenting evidence in court. It can be challenging, but satisfying and rewarding too. The hours you volunteer will make a real difference to the public of Surrey and you will gain unique experiences that you are unlikely to encounter elsewhere.

To become a special constable, you will be required to complete an initial training course of 14 weeks. During this course, you will be expected to attend training on one evening every week and on alternate weekends (Saturday and Sunday). The course is intensive and incorporates many different aspects of policing and conflict resolution, but once complete you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to begin policing.

You will then be expected to dedicate a minimum of 16 hours per month to your special constable duties, volunteering alongside our regular police officers carrying out a range of policing activities. This monthly commitment will enable you to maintain your operational competence.

As you become more experienced in the role, there may be opportunities to specialise within our UAV (Drone) Team, our Roads Policing Units, Public Order Units or working alongside one of our partner agencies on our Joint Response Unit (JRU).

Due to the level of commitment required, you should consider this a long-term volunteer role which will continue to offer new experiences and opportunities.

Skills & Experience

We are looking for individuals who have the drive and determination needed to become a special constable.

You will need to have good communication skills and be able to think laterally to solve problems, often under pressure. You will encounter a wide range of challenging situations, and must be able to deal with conflict and interact with members of the public calmly and confidently.

There are several key eligibility requirements applicants you will need to meet before becoming a special constable which can be found within our Special Constable Recruitment Guide

Special constables have the same powers as paid police constables and that carries with it the same expectations in terms of standards and public service. To become a special constable you will need to demonstrate that your values are aligned to our Policing Code of Ethics; further information about this can be found here

Why Work With Us?

We take pride in looking after our volunteers, through volunteering you will have the opportunity to:

• Experience policing first-hand
• Meet new people and teams
• Learn and develop your skills
• Support your local community

We will reimburse any travel expenses you may incur whilst volunteering and we have recognition schemes in place for us to formally show our appreciation for your service.

As a Special Constable with Surrey Police you will have access to financial and mental well-being guidance and support, discounts for everyday spend, our on-site gyms and a range of sports clubs. Volunteering with us will also allow you to apply for other voluntary and paid positions within the Force.

Eligibility Criteria

Please refer to our Special Constable Recruitment Guide for more information about becoming a special constable. We recommend reading the eligibility criteria in full to confirm you are eligible to apply before you submit an application as we cannot accept applicants who do not meet all of the requirements.

• You can now apply at the age of 17 to be a special constable, however you will need to be 18 on the day that your training course commences.
• All applicants must hold a valid manual driver’s license with no more than 5 points.
• We ask that applicants hold a GCSE (A*-C/4-9) in Maths and English or equivalent Level 2 qualification. However, if you do not have these, or are unable to evidence them, you can apply, but will be required to complete a formal test to demonstrate your competence in these subjects.
• You must have lived in the UK for three continuous years, immediately prior to application. If you’ve lived abroad due to serving in the British Armed Forces or on UK Government Service, you’re considered to have been resident in the UK.
• If you’re from outside the EEA, you’re required to have leave to enter or leave to remain in the UK for an indefinite period. Such applicants must reside in the UK free of restrictions or have an entitlement to do so.
• You cannot be a member of the British National Party (BNP) or other relevant organisations, such as Combat 18 or The National Front.
• You must not have any tattoos with designs which can be seen as discriminatory, violent or intimidating or could be offensive. Tattoos on the face are not generally accepted.
• Ideally you should not have a criminal conviction or caution. We are unable to state whether any convictions/ cautions will affect your application before you apply; this will be determined from the full and confidential information provided during the recruitment process.
• As part of the application process you will be asked to declare any business interest that you wish to maintain.

Diversity Statement

We are only as good as our people. It's important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach, and the skills that diversity brings; all of which help us to deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.

We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and Disability Confident, a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.

We are committed to being an anti-racist police service. We promise to challenge injustice, ensure fairness and to uphold anti-racist principles in both our organisation and our communities. For more information, you can read our full anti-racism statement here.

We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status, or religious belief, we would love to hear from you.

Please use the following links to find out more on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Surrey Police and Sussex Police

Additional Information

Following submission of your application you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Occasionally emails from this address can fall into spam/junk folders so please ensure this is checked regularly. You may wish to consider adding noreply@surreysussexpolice.as.recruitmail.com to your address/contact list to ensure you receive all communications.