Special Constables

Being a special constable is one of the most rewarding, challenging, and diverse volunteer roles you’ll ever experience. You’ll wear the same uniform, carry the same powers, and face the same challenges as regular officers – making a genuine impact every time you step out on duty.

While the role is unpaid, the rewards are life-changing:

• Experience that builds confidence and resilience
• Transferable skills that enhance your career, including:
  communication & negotiation
  adaptability & problem solving
  conflict resolution
  leadership
  teamwork
  decision-making under pressure
  emotional intelligence
• Purpose and fulfilment: help protect communities, support vulnerable people, and solve real problems.
• The chance to give back to your community.
• You’ll also form strong bonds with fellow officers – friendships that often last a lifetime.

Whether you’re responding to 999 calls, patrolling neighbourhoods, or helping keep major events safe, every shift brings new experiences and the chance to grow.

As a special constable, you’ll hold full police powers, and no two shifts will ever be the same. The wide range of incidents, operations, and community events make this a varied and fulfilling volunteer role. You could:

• Respond to emergencies: attend incidents where your quick thinking and problem-solving will be vital in making a difference.
• Investigate crimes: Arrest suspects, collect evidence, and work with victims and witnesses to achieve justice.
• Engage with communities: build trust and maintain relationships with diverse communities to identify and solve local issues.
• Tackle new challenges: adapt to an ever-changing criminal landscape, including cybercrime, fraud, and organised crime.
• One day you might be helping a vulnerable person in crisis, the next you could be part of a high-visibility operation to deter crime.

Due to the nature of the role, the journey is thorough, but you won’t go through it alone, we’re here to help. We’ll guide you every step of the way. From your first enquiry to your first shift, we’ll make sure you have the information and support you need to succeed.

As a special constable, you’ll have access to exciting long-term opportunities. After you’ve gained some experience, you can be promoted through the ranks – from special sergeant to special superintendent – taking on leadership roles within the team.

You can also apply to join specialist units, including:

• Roads Policing
• CountryWatch Rural Crime Taskforce
• Search Team
• Investigations
• Marine Unit
• Cyber

Whether you’re looking to develop new skills or take on greater responsibility, your journey as a special can lead to a wide range of rewarding paths.

If you’ve served as a regular officer or special constable within the last 5 years, we offer a bespoke re-joining process. You will still need to complete an application form and attend our assessment centre, but your training will be bespoke and tailored to your needs.

To discuss this further, please email specialsrecruitment@hampshire.police.uk

Employer Supported Policing (ESP) is a partnership scheme in which employers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight allow their staff to train and patrol as special constables. Employers provide paid leave for some of the minimum 16 hours that special constables are required to contribute.

Allowing staff to become Special Constables offers huge benefits to the organisations in terms of staff development – benefits that cannot be bought commercially. Transferable skills include communicating and negotiating effectively, staying calm under pressure, problem solving, decision making, team building, leadership and management and responsibility.

There are a number of employers that operate in the Hampshire area that offer ESP to their staff, these include:

• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
• Ministry of Defence
• Red Driving School
• Babcock International
• ACRO Criminal Records Office
• Marks & Spencer
• Solent Stevedores Ltd
• University of Portsmouth
• University of Southampton
• UK Power Networks
• HM Prison Service

For more information about ESP, please email special.constables@hampshire.police.uk