About the specials

Special constable recruitment is now open!

The Special Constabulary is a voluntary body, whose officers form a vital part of the police family, working alongside their regular colleagues to police the communities of Cumbria. Specials perform a variety of police duties to support regular officers with the day-to-day policing of Cumbria.

People become a special constable for a variety of reasons. Some people have free time and have a desire to give something back to their community, some people are very happy in their present job but want something totally different in their spare time, some people may have wanted to work in the police but for different reasons they have gone down a different career path. Specials have the same powers as regular officers, wear the same uniform and carry the same equipment as regular officers.

In all these circumstances the Special Constabulary gives you the opportunity to have a second career. This is a great opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and gain experience in a wide range of policing duties.

As per the College of Policing guidelines candidates are required to be 18 years of age at application.

Transferee Specials

We are also accepting applications from Specials who wish to transfer from Home Office Forces;

The criteria for transferee Specials is;

1. Achieved Independent Patrol Status (England and Wales only)
2. Free from any convictions/cautions/reprimands and penalty notices (other than driving penalty notices) even if you are serving as a Special Constable at the moment with another force. 
3. Thoroughly grounded in the operational aspects of police work
4. Free from any ongoing investigation in your current force
5. Have completed your minimum required annual hours (however we can look at individual circumstances if someone has good reason not to have completed then).
6. Be currently serving as a Special or have been within the last 12 months.  Please note we will look to get references from your current Line Manager.

To apply use our Special Constable online application through the job’s portal.  You just need to specify in part 3 of the application form that you are an existing Special with another force.

Hear from some specials and former specials why they chose to do the role they do!