Seven new volunteers join Hertfordshire’s Special Constabulary

Hertfordshire Constabulary welcomed seven new Special Constables last Wednesday (20 December).

The cohort includes a retail manager, a translator, a university student, a construction site manager, an electrician, a head of department for an NHS Trust and a victim care officer.

Hertfordshire’s Special Constabulary are volunteer police officers. They come from all walks of life and volunteer their spare time for a minimum of 16 hours a month. Highly trained, with full policing powers including the power to arrest, they play an essential role in preventing, reducing and tackling crime.

The new recruits were formally attested at a ceremony held at police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City last week, where they took the police oath in front of Chief Constable Charlie Hall, Chief of Staff Jon Simpson, Justice of Peace Dr Stephen Pam and Special Superintendent Joanne Reay.

They were also joined by four local dignitaries: Broxbourne Mayor Paul Seeby, East Herts Mayor Richard Townsend, Three Rivers Cllr Sarah Nelmes and Welwyn Hatfield Cllr Pankit Shah.

Chief Constable Charlie Hall said: “I would like to congratulate our new Special Constables as they selflessly volunteer their time to help keep Hertfordshire safe. Being a Special is an exciting volunteering role where you can make a real difference to your community. I thank them for their dedication to support our county.

“Applications to join our Special Constabulary are open all year round and I encourage anybody who is looking for a rewarding volunteering role to consider applying.”

If you’re concerned about fitting the role in with your day job, you may be interested in our Employer Supported Policing (ESP) scheme.

ESP gives flexibility for Special Constables to carry out their volunteering duties and the constabulary will work with your employer to find a way that works.  For example, some employers decide to give the Special unpaid leave to undertake their duties whilst others are able to offer paid leave. It is definitely worth exploring if you are thinking about joining our Special Constabulary. To find out more visit hertspolicespecials.co.uk.