Profiles - Special constables

Why and when did you join the Special Constabulary?

I first became a Special Constable in 2004 at the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, and was there for a year before transferring to Warwickshire. I found out about the Specials when a friend asked me if I was interested in joining with her. I hadn’t even heard of volunteer police officers before, but I’m always up for a challenge and like learning new skills, pushing myself and discovering new strengths and seeing what I’m capable of. The SC seemed to offer me all of these things. For me, it was an opportunity to give back to the community that had welcomed me so warmly, in some small way, so, here I am 16 years later, still learning, still challenging myself and still giving back when I can.

What are your current responsibilities as a Special Constable?

As special constables we are warranted officers who hold the same powers as regular officers, my role at the moment is to support my local Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT), working alongside Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), and our regular PCs and Sergeant. I help with foot patrol, local operations, such as speed checks, road policing priorities, any warrants that are served, engaging with the community with reassurance patrols, particularly during the pandemic, as well as bigger county wide operations like County Lines, high visibility patrols during the evenings and helping with local community issues, vulnerable people visits and dealing with local crime and prevention.

What is a typical shift as a Special?

Typically I go into my SNT hub, and work on a shift with either PCSOs or PCs, doing taskings, which are designated patrols on foot or in the marked car to deal with local community issues, as well as any call outs, we get to deal with incidents as they arise, or anything we see while out and about the town. These can last for several hours or be a full 8 hour shift depending on my availability or however long the tasks take. You get to know the locals and spend time reassuring and understanding the needs of the residents and making sure they feel safe and supported in the community.

What is your role outside the Special Constabulary?

When I’m not policing, I’m a Pilates instructor, Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer and Krav Maga self-defence Instructor, a sports therapist who specialises in injury management and a GP referral consultant for high risk populations, oh, and a Psychologist. I like to keep busy and I’m crazy about health and fitness!

What benefits does being a serving Special Constable offer you?

Being a special constable gives you the opportunity to see life from a different perspective, it makes you look at the life you have out of uniform and realise how thankful you are for your good health, good fortune and good family, when you’re an SC you have the power to do something for the people who aren’t as fortunate, without judgement or prejudice, you can make a difference to those who can’t help themselves, are vulnerable or helpless. Just by your presence on the streets you can prevent a crime, protect someone or reassure the worried. You might not get remuneration for what you do, but the benefit of a few hours on the street, in a car, visiting a victim of crime, can have untold benefits for the entire community, the community that you live in.

How does being a Special Constable benefit your role outside the Special Constabulary?

Going through the SC training and learning new skills helped build my confidence, For me, it is an extension of what I do in my business, by improving my confidence, I have learnt to deal with conflict and difficult situations, As well as decision making bringing a vital skill for policing, Fast, dynamic reasoning and assessing risk, problem solving, flexibility and compromise all benefit everyday life. Understanding others point of view, tolerance and listening without judgement are acquired skills while determination, resilience and persistence build a formidable strength of character.

What do your family and friends think of your Special role?

My family are very supportive of me being an SC, although worry about me doing a job that has risks, I have to reassure them, that I’m trained to look after myself and that I use my communication skills to deal with situations. I have no problems telling any of my friends that I’m an SC, in fact they are usually not that surprised, It has become part of who I am now, even second nature, it’s not a job, it’s a way of life. Some can’t understand why I do it for nothing, but it’s not for nothing, when your motivation for doing something transcends remuneration, you give of your time, your skills, your presence, at times risk your personal safety, but it’s because you want to make a difference.

Would you recommend that people volunteer for the Special Constabulary? And if so, why?

Being a Special is demanding, tiring, sometimes thankless and there are risks, there’s not always black and white, clear right or wrong. You are dealing with human beings, who are sometimes unpredictable and not all jobs are the same, every time you are called to something, it probably will be very different to what people perceive. You will become well versed in the law and trained to deal with a range of situations, but some skills aren’t taught in training, you need to bring your strength of character, a willingness to uphold what’s lawful, regardless of what’s happening around you, back up your crew mate, work as part of a team but work just as well autonomously, and have a mental fortitude to deal with situations that you may never otherwise face. It’s a big ask, but anyone who wants a challenge, wants to see and do things you never thought you’d do, then go for it.

Why and when did you join the Special Constabulary?

I joined in November 2017 as I had some spare time and wanted to do something a bit different and help out in the community. I have a lot of family members in the emergency services but knew I wanted to pursue a different career so it was a happy compromise.

What are your current responsibilities as a Special Constable?

I currently work predominantly with a response shift, taking on the same responsibilities as a regular officer. This can be anything from traffic management to arresting violent suspects. I am also about to become a ‘tutor’ for the next cohort of Specials joining us, which will be exciting.

What is a typical shift as a Special?

There is no such thing as a typical shift! I have attended a wide range of incidents, from Facebook arguments to firearms incidents. You never know what you're going to turn up to!

What is your role outside the Special Constabulary?

I am an engineer for a global automotive manufacturer.

What benefits does being a serving Special Constable offer you?

It sounds cliché but it’s a good feeling to go home at the end of the shift and know you've helped out! I've made some great friends from being a part of Warwickshire Police and had some experiences I would have never had without it.

How does being a Special Constable benefit your role outside the Special Constabulary?

It really puts things into perspective. Problems at work that seemed insurmountable become simple compared to some of the issues we face on shift. You gain a lot of experience with negotiation and problem solving and learn to think on your feet very quickly!

What do your family and friends think of your Special role?

My parents have both worked in the emergency services so they knew what to expect and were very supportive. My friends think it's interesting and very different from normal life.

Would you recommend that people volunteer for the Special Constabulary? And if so, why?

I would definitely recommend that people volunteer for the Special Constabulary. If you're thinking of joining the police full time, it's a really good way of gaining experience and seeing if you like it. Even if you have no intentions of joining the police full time, you gain so much experience that you would never get elsewhere. You get to challenge yourself and learn a lot. You can also make some really great friends!

Why did you join the Special Constabulary?

I always wanted to join the police. I left school with no A-Levels or degrees etc and thought I had no chance.  I attended an open day which gave me an insight into the Special Constabulary and thought I would attempt to join, as at the age of 44, I felt I had enough life experience to deal with situations. The idea of the Specials, and the balance with home life, was perfect for me.

What are your current responsibilities as a Special Constable?

I get to police local community events, such as war memorials, firework displays as well as working as part of our safer neighbourhood teams, attending call outs the local community has reported to the police. I wear a uniform, have had full training and have to complete a minimum of 16 hours a month. This does not have to be four hours a week.  Sometimes I have been on an eight-hour shift in one day.  The beauty of the role is you choose your hours around your family life.

 

What is a typical shift as a Special?

A shift can range from attending domestic incidents, thefts, road traffic incidents, missing persons to health and welfare checks for vulnerable persons.

What benefits does being a serving Special Constable offer you?

I am developing my knowledge, gaining more life and work experience, whilst meeting members of our local communities and learning something new every day. It’s exciting and challenging but I get to protect people from harm.

How does being a Special Constable benefit your role outside the Special Constabulary?

Since joining the Specials, I have developed a wider knowledge of the law system and allowed me to use this in my everyday working life. With the training and ongoing support from the organisation, I feel I am empowered to go get involved in situations that no other job would allow.

 

What do your family and friends think of your Special role?

Everyone I speak to, whether family of friends say it’s amazing that I give up my own time and put my life on the front line to protect our communities and vulnerable people. People I have never met in my life, yet I am protecting them.  However I love it. My family has seen a change in me since joining Warwickshire police in that I am more confident in myself and I am able to confront any situation now (to the point they call me ‘Mr Policeman’).

Would you recommend that people volunteer for the Special Constabulary? And if so, why?

Without a doubt. Being a police officer is not for everyone, this is the perfect way to see if it’s the career you wish to pursue. It will give you the same powers and responsibilities as a regular officer. For me, personally, being a Special Constable makes me feel part of a very big family. I get so much support from the organisation.  Being a Special Constable gives me the powers and tools to always protect people and do the right thing. I find I get the same level of respect as any other officer or member of the force. There is no difference.  Regardless of rank, we all work together to protect and serve our local communities.

After 13 years' service with Warwickshire Police, Special Chief Inspector Dave Watts retired from the force on 28 July 2017. Here, he looks back at his time in the Special Constabulary and how he came to volunteer.

"I was working in the automotive industry and the company I was with at the time was losing money. The shareholders set the management team the task of becoming profitable in four years. It was hard work but, once this had been achieved, I felt I needed to look for a different sort of challenge," he said.

"I had previously considered joining the Special Constabulary when I was working in Yorkshire. I wanted a role that took me out of my comfort zone, for both the physical and intellectual challenge, and something wholly different from my career in the automotive industry."

Dave joined Warwickshire Police Special Constabulary in 2003 and was based at Stratford-upon-Avon. While he found that the training was "exemplary", the HR systems good and the recruitment process acceptable, he experienced some early frustration with achieving his independence as a Special Constable.

He explained, "Once you attested, there was no formal process to get you to independence. But I was not going to fail. I got support from regular officers: the Response and Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) were good at supporting me; they took me out with them as often as they could and I achieved my independence within 18 months."

Dave recalled memories of his first duties as a Special Constable, "My first tour of duty was at Global Gathering. We were given our brief and told that at a certain point the festival-goers would be released to enter the compound. When this happened it was like a tide of humanity coming at us. It was quite a memorable experience: I was on duty for ten hours, I had done nothing like that before and I certainly put myself outside my comfort zone.

"On my second tour of duty, I and some regular officers attended a street fight in Alcester. I didn't have a clue what to do. I got out of the vehicle wearing my uniform and people were asking me what to do. I drew on my common sense and my life experience and I thought to myself, 'This is a problem so how do I solve it? What support is available and how do I get it?'. It was all very confusing and chaotic initially, but I was helped by the regular officers and the other units that turned up."

As a Special Chief Inspector (SCI), what were his responsibilities and what were the challenges? Dave said: "I was responsible for two Special Inspectors, ten Special Sergeants and 90 Special Constables in South Warwickshire.

"In managing volunteers, one of the hardest things was to organise people who want to do something positive and do not want to sit in a police office while their regular crew mate does paperwork. However, sometimes you have to accept enthusiasm outweighs abilities. You need to consider how to keep motivation high and ensure officers act professionally, especially given their enthusiasm to get involved. What did I do to keep them motivated? I sought to present the team as a valued resource to the force and interact with regular officers as much as possible so their enthusiasm was used constructively. It was self-fulfilling - the more we worked with the regulars, the more they wanted to work with us.

"Another problem was managing volunteers over a distance, remotely. Often, I didn't see my management team for weeks on end. As a line manager, you need to walk the talk and demonstrate leadership from the front line yet also trust your team to do the right thing. I would make sure people knew when to turn up and what to do when they got there. And always said "thank you" in person and by email."

There was a pastoral side to this, too, as Dave acknowledged: "Volunteers have different motivations. For example, during the Shakespeare birthday event in 2016, less experienced Special Constables were put on points where they were actively used and they engaged with the public. They were given ownership of their patch and they valued the opportunity."

In his role as a SCI, what benefits did he get out of the role? "I had opportunities for continuous learning, developing management skills, professional development, satisfaction in serving the community and the satisfaction of working with the larger policing team in Warwickshire," Dave said.

Did he feel that the role of Special Constables was valued by the organisation? "Yes, they were. Senior officers let us run a lot of Specials-led operations. That demonstrated their trust in us. Ownership of a task is very important to development and satisfaction in the role, and as SCI, I tried to provide a service to regular officers. I worked to build the Special Constabulary as a resource, with a mix of independent and non-independent officers in each team, with a Special Sergeant managing about ten Special Constables. I recruited more sergeants, and deliberately created a team structure not so explicitly based on SNTs to create a broader resource for the south of the county," he said.

Dave cited the South Warwickshire Special Constabulary Priorities Team (the Specials Priorities Team) as an example of how you can develop a resource that can deal with targeted issues. "We achieved fantastic things with the Specials Priorities Team working with SNTs with demonstrable outcomes," he said.

He pointed out: "For National Specials Weekend 2017, we got three times as many people on duty for this year's event as we had in previous years, with full support from senior regular officers. When you get this sort of back-up you can achieve amazing things. There are now new opportunities to support Enhanced Policing Initiatives on Friday and Saturday nights in Leamington Spa. That's good news, but we always have to remember that Special Constables do not want to sit in a van or do foot patrols all the time. They want variety."

How did being a Special Constable assist you in your full-time role with Warwickshire Police? Dave believed that "It brought another world into focus: people who need help, people who have been sidelined by society, people in distress. You can reflect on the circumstances and use the learning to change the way you interact with the wider world."

Did members of the public have a better understanding of the role of Special Constables better compared to when he joined? "Members of the public don't make a distinction between regular officers and Special Constables," Dave said. "They see someone in a uniform and ask 'Are you going to sort me out?' or 'I'm in trouble - are you going to help?' It can be quite exciting, daunting and challenging. That's why people do it. But it can be distressing: you see people at their best and at their worst."

He sees that the challenges ahead as being the need to build on and develop the Special Constabulary so the force can make better use of them, that they are better integrated with regular officers, and that they are trained and prepared for new technology, such as the introduction of body worn cameras and Athena, the 'one-stop shop' to manage intelligence, investigation, case preparation and custody management which will cover over 70% of operational processes and practices.

What are the opportunities open to the Special Constabulary? "Give [Special Constables] ownership of operations, recruit more from Black and Minority Ethnic communities, and build the Special Constabulary as a resource but not just as an adjunct to the SNTs," were some of Dave's ideas for the development of Special Constables.

So, would Dave recommend that people volunteer to be Special Constables? "Yes, unequivocally. It will test you, it will challenge you, it will change you. You will be a more rounded individual as a consequence," argued Dave. "You'll come out of it a better person. You'll see the worst of people but at the end you will have helped someone. It is a huge achievement. So, 'yes', do it. But the support of your family or partner is important and will assist in what you can achieve. My wife has been amazing."

Neil is a Special Sergeant and the Safer Neighbourhood Team liaison for Warwick District. He has been with the Special Constabulary for more than four years and is based mainly at Leamington Spa.

Why did you join the Special Constabulary?

I had an incredibly intensive and time-consuming job and I realised that the job was taking over my life. So at the same time as changing jobs I wanted to do something productive with my spare time, rather than simply having it. I signed up for to be a school governor, which I did for three years, and also as an Special Constable, primarily really as it was something where I could learn a raft of new skills while taking me well out of my comfort zone. My line manager at the time still has not got over the shock...

What are your current responsibilities as a Special Constable?

I line manage a small group of Special Constables and have a couple going through probation at the moment. A lot of my time is spent on delivering training inputs and tutoring but I am also the community policing lead so I put on the events in this area for the Special Constabulary.

What is your role outside the Special Constabulary?

I am a guard with Cross Country Trains.

What benefits does being a serving Special Constable offer you?

I have met new people and made friends, but also in my spare time I am now doing something very rewarding - either in helping fellow Special Constables get the best out of themselves or also helping a very stretched force deliver their commitments. Selfishly the benefits are that I can drive a police car and also use kit like automatic number plate recognition and the roadside speed gun.

How does being a Special Constable benefit your role outside the Special Constabulary?

It is a useful one for me in my day job as it has taught me tolerance but also more how to deal better with the various types of customer we get on board trains, be they drunk, abusive or just plain intolerant.

Would you recommend that people volunteer for the Special Constabulary? And if so, why?

Without hesitation - it offers a dynamic and exciting volunteering option which you can get out just as much as you put in. Very few volunteering opportunities can you safely say you have no idea what will come your way while doing it. You can start off thinking that you'll be doing community engagement and actually end up dealing with vulnerable people at the worst moment of their life. Knowing you helped them is immeasurable. What is the highlight of your career so far in the Special Constabulary or what has been the oddest experience or most bizarre highlight you have had while you were on duty? Bizarre? That has to be the time I had to rescue a live male swan from the centre of Warwick and carry it over a mile through the town to a canal and then sit with it until it was recovered.

Ross is a Special Sergeant based at Greys Mallory, near Warwick.

Why did you join the Special Constabulary?

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• How has the Special Constabulary benefitted you, either in your work or personal life?

 

It has shown me different walks of life and a different side to life in general. 

 

• What transferable skills has being a Special Constable given you?

 

Dealing with stressful situations, supervisory skills and in general life skills!

What’s the best thing about being a Special Constable? 

 

Being able to make a difference. 

John-Paul has served with Warwickshire Police Special Constabulary since January 2014. He is now a Special Sergeant based at Bedworth Police Station.

Why did you join the Special Constabulary?

I joined the Special Constabulary as I really enjoy working with the public and wanted to volunteer my time to something worthwhile and make a positive impact on my community. I get a buzz from being able to help people from all walks of life and to serve and protect the general public. I feel the police get unwarranted negativity from some members of society that do not understand the pressures and constraints an officer faces in his/her daily role, and if I can be part of changing that perception through positive policing and community interaction it will be for the good.

What are your current responsibilities as a Special Constable?

Planning, organising and monitoring the activities of Special Constables under my area of responsibility and providing effective leadership for the team. To assist the Special Inspector in driving the operational effectiveness of the Special Constabulary by delivering the leadership, support, development and motivation of Special Constables. Contributing to strategic development, maintaining standards and ensuring compliance with operational policies.

What is your role outside the Special Constabulary?

I am currently working as a Police Enquiry Officer for Warwickshire Police.

What benefits does being a serving Special Constable offer you?

Since serving as a Special Constable I have developed good leadership skills, communication skills and confidence in dealing with conflict. It also provides a greater understanding of general policing.

How does being a Special Constable benefit your role outside the Special Constabulary?

As above I have developed good leadership skills, communication skills and confidence in dealing with conflict situations and the skills to help control and resolve a conflict or potentially violent situation.

Would you recommend that people volunteer for the Special Constabulary?

Yes definitely: joining the Special Constabulary is hugely rewarding. You receive excellent training to enable you to do the job; the support level within the Special Constables and regular officers is amazing, And helping victims of crime, assisting members of the public, bringing offenders to justice and supporting the regular police leaves you with a great sense of achievement.

What is the highlight of your career so far in the Special Constabulary?

We were once called to assist in tracking down and detaining an escaped tiger one Saturday night. As you can imagine myself and my colleagues were a little apprehensive about this. As we made our way to the area information started trickling in that the tiger was well in drink and had ran off from a party after a verbal argument. We were then confronted with the escaped tiger in the road in front of us. It soon dawned on us that the escaped tiger was actually a drunk 16-year-old in a tiger onesie. In any case we safely captured the wild animal and took him home to his mum, where he was sent to bed without his supper.

Based at Rugby Police Station, Special Sergeant Ryan has served with Warwickshire Police since 2014.

Why did you join the Special Constabulary?

I joined Warwickshire Special Constabulary to further develop my own personal skills and to give something back to the community. The Special Constabulary have driven me to continue to chase my childhood dream of going full time and becoming a regular officer.

What are your current responsibilities as a Special Constable?

I am currently responsible as a sergeant for a team of nine Special Constables, some of which are independent and some are non-independent. It is my job to look after their every needs and organise shifts for them and I will personally mentor my team members. My area of expertise within policing is traffic. I have a keen eye for a suspect vehicle and usually a vehicle stop can lead into drugs and weapons seizures. I enjoy all aspects of policing but traffic is my passion and I hope to one day be a regular officer specialising in traffic on the Operational Policing Unit.

What is your role outside the Special Constabulary?

I am a Sales Adviser currently but I am seeking a police staff role while waiting to join the regulars.

What benefits does being a serving Special Constable offer you?

Being a Special Constable has given me an amazing amount of self-confidence and there is not any situation that I will feel unable to handle myself in. I have learnt new ways to approach problems and made a group of new friends who share the same interests. I have grown close to the regular reactive patrol units and sometimes work alongside them as well as with the Safer Neighbourhood Team at Rugby. Helping out wherever I can has earnt me respect from regular officers which is a great confidence booster.

Would you recommend that people volunteer for the Special Constabulary?

I would recommend the Special Constabulary to anyone looking to further develop their skills as an individual and I would recommend joining if they are looking to join the regulars. Policing is not for everyone and this is a perfect way of seeing if the job is for you.

What is the highlight of your career so far in the Special Constabulary?

I have many highlights to be proud of since being a Special Constable as I will regularly do 130 hours a month so there are plenty to choose from but in six months since January 2017 I have seized 57 vehicles in the Rugby area for reasons such as having no insurance or no road tax and obstructions. My highlight carrying out traffic duties would be an arrest of an Eastern European male wanted on a European arrest warrant from police in Poland. The male had been on the run from Polish Police for around ten years and I arrested him following stopping his vehicle for committing a traffic offence. He was flown to Poland the next day and charged for offences ranging from GBH and criminal damage to the value of £10,000. The bizarre moments have been plentiful but the one that tops the lot has to be a time where I stopped a vehicle and the driver was completely naked driving around randomly.

Ben is employed by Warwickshire Police as a call handler, working in the force control room, answering 999 calls and being the first point of contact for members of the public when they call the police. He also volunteers as a Special Constable.

How has the Special Constabulary benefited you, either in your work or personal life?

Being a Special Constable provided me with a heightened insight into the police service, and convinced me to apply for my current full-time role in the control room. In addition, being a Special Constable and working in the control room allows me to see both sides of dealing with incidents. 

What transferable skills has being a Special Constable given you?

Being a Special Constable has increased my capabilities to manage conflict and has taught me how to calm people down even in highly volatile situations. In addition, being a Special Constable helps me in my day job as I understand what police officers need to know when attending incidents.

What’s the best thing about being a Special Constable?

I believe the best thing is being able to be there for people when they are sometimes at their lowest and being that voice for change or just being that person whose there to help them; I love getting involved in every opportunity that presents itself and experiencing sides of life that I would never have experienced in my day job, and forming lifelong friendships in the process. It is a very rewarding role and I thoroughly enjoy every minute of it.

Jake is a Special Constable, working from Greys Mallory traffic base, who started doing Special Constabulary duties in December 2016.

Why did you join the Special Constabulary?

I joined as I wanted to join the police in a few years' time; this is giving me a good insight and experience of the job.

What are your current responsibilities as a Special Constable?

I am still on phase two of my training, so no areas of specialism just yet.

What is your role outside the Special Constabulary?

Just started up on my own business outside of the force. What benefits does being a serving Special Constable offer you? (Eg skills, experience.) It's a good experience and I'm learning a whole new set of skills.

How does being a Special Constable benefit your role outside the Special Constabulary?

Builds confidence and good team-working skills.

Would you recommend that people volunteer for the Special Constabulary? And if so, why?

If it's an interest or potentially a job you want to do I would recommend to do as it will give you a head start and what to expect.

What is the highlight of your career so far in the Special Constabulary?

The best part of the job is going to response 999 calls, while on the way trying to eat your dinner you just bought, on top of going through a plan of what to do when we arrive, and never knowing what to expect.

Working out of Leamington Spa, James has served with Warwickshire Police Special Constabulary for 14 months.

Why did you join the Special Constabulary?

I had always wanted to do something for the blue light services and initially looked into firefighting. I then figured that this was notoriously hard to get into and therefore considered policing. After speaking with a friend of mine who himself became a Special Constable, he advised me to look into the role of being a Special Constable myself. After telling me what he got involved in, I figured I would give it a go.

What are your current responsibilities as a Special Constable?

I'm trained on the Intoximeter at Custody where persons who are over the alcohol limit while driving go to when we need to take an evidential reading that will be used in court. This is a highly useful tool, as not many Special Constable or paid Police Constables are trained in the use on this machine.

What is your role outside the Special Constabulary?

I'm a full-time administrator for a company. I now have something incredibly exciting to look forward to at the end of every week which really makes the time fly by.

What benefits does being a serving Special Constable offer you?

Being a Special Constable really enables you to see how the police work in conjunction with one another. I had many thoughts as to how police might deal with crimes and it is so different to what I thought. I have also found that I am actually a really patient person and I've been able to hone this skill even more. My communication skills have also increased with me being able to diffuse situations both in my police role and outside of it.

How does being a Special Constable benefit your role outside the Special Constabulary?

Confidence. I think it's a great way to make you realise how confident a person you are. I'm not shy to admit that I wasn't terribly confident on my first ever shift. But now I've been doing this for a little while, I now know that I had the ability to do a role like this for a very long time.

Would you recommend that people volunteer for the Special Constabulary? And if so, why?

I would absolutely encourage anyone who is currently thinking about joining the police to seriously consider becoming a Special Constable. It gives you a great insight to how the police work and also acts as a guide to see if policing truly is a career you wish to pursue!