Hertfordshire Constabulary welcomes four new Special Constables

Hertfordshire Constabulary formally welcomed four new Special Constables earlier this month.

Specials 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 cohort were formally attested at a ceremony which took place at police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 15 August. Friends and family were in attendance and witnessed the new officers take their oath in front of Magistrate Rob Sassoon.

Special Superintendent Jo Reay said: “It’s always a delight to see our new Special Constables taking their oath to protect our communities in Hertfordshire. They join our police family and a fantastic group of volunteers who give up their time to do something they are passionate about and love.”

Chief Constable Charlie Hall added: “As they start their Specials career, I’d like to say thank you for volunteering your spare time to keep our communities safe. I know how hard they have worked to get to this point and they should feel immensely proud of what they have achieved. Hertfordshire’s Special Constabulary is highly regarded by other forces, and we offer fantastic training and development opportunities.”

The four recruits will be stationed across the county with two officers heading to Stevenage, one to St Albans and one volunteering in Three Rivers.

Applications to join our Special Constabulary are open all year round. If you’re looking for a rewarding volunteering role, becoming a Special could be a great route to consider.

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 worth exploring if you are thinking about joining our Special Constabulary.

To find out more visit: Special Constables | Hertfordshire Constabulary (herts.police.uk)