Vacancy Information

Volunteer. Protect. Make a Difference.

Are you ready to take on a unique and rewarding challenge? As a special constable, you’ll volunteer alongside our police constables to help fight crime, protect the public and build trust within our communities.

This is more than just a volunteer role - it’s a chance to make a real impact while gaining valuable skills, experience, and a sense of pride that comes from serving others.

Please note: Following your initial training, we ask for a minimum commitment of 16 hours per month. This is a long-term voluntary role; we encourage all applicants to consider the time and dedication required before applying.

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 who come from all walks of life, but they share one thing in common: a commitment to making Surrey safer.

Whether you're looking to give back to your community, gain unique life experience, or explore a future in policing, this is your opportunity to step into a unique voluntary role.

Policing Your Community

Our special constables are based across all eleven boroughs of Surrey and within specialist teams. Special constables wear the same uniform, hold the same powers and carry the same responsibilities as our regular (paid) police officers.

There’s no such thing as a “typical” shift. You might:

• Respond to 999 emergency calls
• Patrol local neighbourhoods
• Conduct house-to-house enquiries
• Preserve crime scenes
• Present evidence in court

It’s challenging, unpredictable and incredibly rewarding.

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.

Training and Development

To prepare you for the role, you’ll complete a 14-week training course, which includes:

• One evening session per week
• Alternate weekend sessions (Saturday & Sunday)

The course is intensive and covers everything from policing powers to conflict resolution. Once complete, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to begin your policing journey. You’ll then be expected to volunteer a minimum of 16 hours per month to maintain your operational competence.

As you grow in experience and confidence, you may be invited to develop additional skills within such as UAV (drones), roads policing and public order.

This is a long-term volunteer role, so please consider the time and dedication required before you apply.

Skills & Experience

We are looking for individuals who demonstrate the commitment, integrity, and resilience required to serve as a special constable.

Successful candidates will demonstrate

• Effective communication skills, enabling clear and professional engagement with members of the public
• Sound judgement and problem-solving ability, particularly under pressure
• Capacity to manage conflict constructively, maintaining composure and control
• Confidence and reliability, with an ability to approach diverse scenarios with professionalism and empathy

There are several key criteria you'll need to meet before becoming a special constable; these can be found in our Special Constable Recruitment Guide.

Special constables are afforded the same legal powers and responsibilities as paid police constables. Accordingly, they are held to the same high standards of conduct and public service. All candidates must demonstrate values that are consistent with the principles outlined in our Code of Ethics which 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.

Further Information

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 English or equivalent Level 2 qualification. However, if you do not have this, or are unable to evidence this, 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 Disability Confident, hold Race Equality Matters Trailblazer status, are a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and are 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.