Meet some of our Special Constables

Occupation

Project surveyor

What's your background?

In my paid job I am mainly office-based, working as a Project Surveyor for a construction company. I’ve been a Special for 10 years, doing most of my shifts at weekends to fit in with my work and social life.

I am also supported by my employer who is registered on the Employer Supported Policing scheme and I can work some of my duties in with my job during normal working hours.

What made you apply to become a Special Constable?

I went into the Specials originally when I started university. Having been in the Combined Cadet Force and RAF Cadets while I was at school, it was a decision between the Specials or the Territorial Army, but ultimately this role really appealed to me: helping people, keeping the community safe and doing something different and active in my spare time.

Where do you work as a Special Constable?

Currently, I’m based in Broxbourne responding to 999 calls. In addition to this, I sometimes work on the Rural Operational Support Team (ROST) at HQ dealing with a wide range of rural crime all over the county, supporting national operations and helping local Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) with rural crime issues. I think I am also the only Special currently trained in the country as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) officer.

What kinds of duties do you carry out?

I’ve carried out a huge variety over the years. I spent a long time based on 999 response at Cheshunt, dealing with all kinds of emergency calls. Since I passed the first response driving course for Hertfordshire Specials in 2017, I’m often the first on scene of 999 calls and I’ve been behind the wheel for a number of pursuits with vehicles that have failed to stop.

What do you like about being a Special Constable?

I really enjoy getting out and the fact that you never know what the duty will present. When out on patrol you never know what the next call may be or what challenge you will have next.

Why would you encourage others to do it?

It’s a unique opportunity to help the community and have an exciting and challenging job where no two shifts are the same. You also develop lifelong skills and great transferable skills that can help in everyday life and your regular job.

Occupation

Communications Operator

Jon is a Special Constable whose employer has signed up to Employer Supported Policing. This allows Jon to dedicate a few of his working hours each month to being a Special Constable.

What does your full-time job entail?

I answer 999 emergency calls and 101 non-emergency calls for in Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Force Communications Room. I also dispatch officers to incidents.

What made you apply to become a Special Constable?

I wanted to gain more knowledge of the law and the police as a whole, in particular how incidents are dealt with. I also wanted develop a number of skills which I could use in other aspects of life.

How did you find the training?

The training had a good mix between theory based classroom training and practical training. This was beneficial as it allowed us to put skills we had learnt into practice promptly. The personal safety training was tough however very enjoyable and gave you a good insight into some of the situations you are likely to find yourself in.

What area do you cover?

I work with the Response team in Hertsmere. We respond to 999 emergency calls.

How do you find the balance between work, personal life and being a Special Constable?

Doing shift work for my main job allows me to have a good balance between work, being a Special and my personal life. It also allows me to work a number of different shifts as a Special Constable so I experience a wide variety of incidents.

Do you find the skills you’ve gained as a Special have helped your career, and vice versa?

The skills I have gained in my role as a Special have given me a much better understanding of the incidents reported to me whilst working in the control room which in turn has helped me to deal with the calls better and more confidently.

What do you like about being a Special Constable?

The diversity of the role and the variety of incidents you deal with. I like that we get treated the same as regular officers – we are able to deal with the same exciting and high profile incidents.

What has been your most memorable incident?

My first call on Saturday was to a domestic incident. As a result, I arrested the offender for a number of offences and then conveyed him to custody and booked him in. I then returned to the address of the incident and completed witness and victims statements, before completing all my paperwork at the station. Although this took the whole shift it was nice to see the incident all the way through. As a result of this, the victim was safeguarded from harm, the offender was charged with a number of offences, and my work was recognised by the Chief Inspector who thanked me for my hard work.