Specials History

Did you know?

King Charles II

In 1673 King Charles II, with the threat of public order arising following attempts to enforce religious conformity, ruled that any citizen can be sworn in as a temporary peace officer when there was a threat of ‘great disturbance.’

Anyone could be sworn in before the magistrates and sworn in as a special – and heavily fined or jailed if they refused! 

The Act was in force for hundreds of years and was used to call up specials regularly – but always in the north of England.

Industrial Revolution

In 1819, the leaders of parliamentary reform held a number of meetings in towns and cities across the country.  Sixty thousand demonstrators attended a meeting in Manchester and a riot broke out.  A few days later, 11 people died, including a Special Constable, and 400 people were injured.

An act was passed in 1820 which clarified the powers of magistrates to compel men and women to become Special Constables in time of public unrest – but there was reluctance. 

Note - there were no woman police officers at this time – but women could be Special Constables!

Special Constables Act 1831

Specials were granted ‘all powers, authorities, advantages and immunities’ as any full-time serving officer by the Government following the Special Constable Act of 1831.  The basis of this Act still forms the basis of the constitution of today’s Special Constabulary.

Another Act

In 1835, another Act was passed – introducing the role of volunteer police officers and widening their jurisdiction (allowing them to police outside their parishes and townships). 

Into the 20th Century

During World War One, the main role of Special Constables was preventing the German’s from interfering with the water supply.  They were also involved in the general strike of 1926 and the Second World War from 1939 to 1945.