Special Constable (Volunteer Police Officer) - Forcewide

Volunteering as a Special 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. Please Note: You should only apply to one Special Constable vacancy at a time, you will have the opportunity on the application form to choose 2nd and 3rd preferences for postings. Duplicate applications will be withdrawn.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.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 application will be placed on hold until the outcome of their Police Officer application is known. We are looking to recruit to specified Local Policing Areas (LPA) only and as such applicants are required to live within 20 miles of a police station within that LPA. Applications will not be progressed from applicants who live more than 20 miles away. If you do not live within 20 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. We do not require service as a Special Constable or Police Community Support Officer to apply to become a Police Officer with Thames Valley Police. 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. Competency Based Questions advice Your answers will be used to decide whether your application will proceed to the next stage. Remember this is a formal application for an important and responsible position and we are looking for evidence of the qualities you have or may develop to enable you to carry out the role of Special Constable. When answering the questions it is useful to refer to the key competencies required of a Special Constable. It has been found that applicants who take their time to answer the questions, structure their answers to cover all the points required and provide honest, relevant answers are more likely to be successful. In all parts of the form, please write clearly and concisely, paying attention to your spelling and grammar. You are being assessed throughout this application form for your written skills.

If you leave a question blank or your answers are so short or vague that they do not provide sufficient evidence of the competency, it is unlikely you will pass shortlisting. Applications that contain any material which is not original and accurate may be discontinued.