Special constable – volunteer police officer

Job Description

Are you good with people and passionate about helping others?

Do you want to build your self-confidence, leadership, and communication skills?

Kent Police has an exciting and unique opportunity for you to become a special constable.

Volunteering as a special constable is great way to build relationships and develop new skills. Gain a deeper understanding of the community you live and work in, whilst doing something rewarding. You can volunteer at times which fit around your home life and work commitments – we can make your shifts work for you. All we ask is that you volunteer a minimum of 16 hours per month – the maximum number of hours you deliver is up to you.

Special constables work on the frontline, wear the same uniform, carry the same equipment, and hold the same power as regular police officers. They play a key role in dealing with offenders, victims of crime, vulnerable people and supporting the diverse communities we serve.

It’s a varied role, so you’ll need to be ready for anything. One thing is certain – no two days will ever be the same!

Eligibility. To join us, you’ll need outstanding resilience and dedication.

• you’ll need to love variety and to not shy away from what can sometimes be difficult situations
• you will need to be a natural communicator who is able to build instant rapport with people from all walks of life
• you’ll need to be able to remain calm under pressure

We need to let you know that you will not be eligible to apply if:

• you have been unsuccessful following a special constable interview in the last six months
• you have ever received a custodial sentence (other cautions, convictions and involvement with the police must be declared, but are not necessarily a bar to employment)
• you have previously been dismissed from another force
• you have been declared bankrupt, have a CCJ or an IVA
• you have tattoos of any kind on your face or neck

This post is open to those who:

• are over the age of 18 (you can apply at 17, but won’t be offered the position until you turn 18)
• are British citizens, nationals of the EEA or commonwealth citizens who have no time limit on their stay in the UK, and who have lived in the UK continuously for the past three years
• have not been unsuccessful in an application as a special constable with another Home Office force in the last six months
• have a full Category B driving licence

Training. We have an excellent initial and ongoing training programme, and you will be supported throughout. After you have completed your training, you will be deployed as an operational officer, working from a police station.

Prohibited occupations. Please note there are certain occupations which special constables cannot hold. If you hold one of these occupations, you will not be eligible to apply. Please check the list of prohibited occupations on our website www.kent.police.uk/specials before applying.

What’s in it for you? Being a special is not an easy role and you may be thinking ‘what will I get out of this?’ The answer is: A lot.

Joining Kent Special Constabulary opens opportunities for personal and professional advancement. Undergoing the training and then going out on patrol makes a welcome break from day-to-day life, bringing excitement and challenge with every day that you volunteer.

In return for your hard work, you will:

• make a difference in society, helping reduce and resolve crime, keep people safe including the vulnerable
• give back to the community
• boost your CV
• learn new skills including understanding law and police procedure, communication skills, IT skills, first aid and self-defence
• increase your self-confidence
• have the opportunity of internal progression to become a regular police officer without undergoing the full-training programme

Vetting. This post requires a level of vetting and security clearance. Please read out vetting requirements before applying – www.kent.police.uk/vetting

Tattoos and piercings

If you have a tattoo, you’ll be asked to provide a brief and accurate description and two digital colour photos of each tattoo:

• a distance photograph to clearly identify where on your body the tattoo is
• a close-up photograph which clearly identifies the images in the tattoo

Each photograph should not be more than 1MB in size. All applications will be assessed on an individual basis with issues such as size, nature, prominence, and military context/references taken into consideration.

Tattoos which could reasonably be interpreted as discriminatory or offensive and/or indicate attitudes or views inconsistent with the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics and the Standards of Professional Behaviour will always be deemed unacceptable and will prevent you from being able to join us.

Whilst not exhaustive, we have the following guiding principles:

• visible tattoos of weapons (such as images of knives, firearms etc) are unlikely to be acceptable
• visible tattoos depicting controlled drugs (such as cannabis leaves, spliffs etc) are unlikely to be acceptable
• visible tattoos depicting violence, suffering or death are unlikely to be acceptable (simple images of skulls will not usually fall within this category)
• visible tattoos in the style of ‘el dia de los muertos’ (The Day of the Dead) are unlikely to be acceptable if they fall in to one of the above categories, however not all tattoos in this style will necessarily be unacceptable (examples of unacceptable tattoos in this style would include women with their lips stitched together and images of decomposing features)
• visible tattoos which indicate political support are unlikely to be acceptable
• visible tattoos which are sexually explicit or depict nudity are unlikely to be acceptable
• tattoos on the hands, face and neck will only be approved by exception
• a higher tolerance threshold will be applied to tattoos which are not visible in standard uniform dress, however tattoos which are considered incompatible with Kent Police values will still not be acceptable

Body piercings

If you have a body piercing or other body modification you may be considered eligible to apply.

We’ll check it to make sure it doesn’t breach the Standard of Professional Behaviour for serving police officers or constitute a risk to health and safety.

Events. We are running several information sessions to help candidates with their application forms and to answer any queries – www.kent.police.uk/specials-events

Apply. We encourage applications from those who are looking for a long-term commitment to becoming a special constable. If you think you have what it takes, please apply today.

Diversity and inclusion. We are a diverse team who recognise that one of our strengths is that we all bring something unique to the team, and we all have something different to offer.

We want our organisation to be as diverse as the community it serves and protects. We welcome applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender, sex (or gender), employment status.

If you have a disability or health condition that requires adjustments during any element of the selection process, please provide us with details of the adjustment you would require at the earliest opportunity. Where appropriate we will adjust the selection process, working arrangements and/or the working environment provided it is reasonable in all the circumstances so to do.

For more information on Positive Action please visit www.kent.police.uk/positive-action.

Further information

There is further information on policing Kent, the Special Constabulary, and Kent Police priorities available on our website – www.kent.police.uk

Job Type: Volunteer

Benefits:

• Canteen
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Free flu jabs
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site gym
• On-site parking
• Store discount

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Night shift
• Weekend availability

Application question(s):

• Are you a British citizen, national of the EEA or commonwealth citizens who has no time limit on their stay in the UK, and who have lived in the UK continuously for the past three years?
• Do you have a full category B driving license?
• Have you been unsuccessful in an application as a special constable with another Home Office force in the last six months?

Work Location: On the road

Reference ID: SC