Special Constable
Grade: Volunteer
Salary: Volunteer
Closing Date: 31st December 2019
Previous applicants: Previous applicants who have not been successful for this role in the last 6 months are not eligible to apply on this occasion.
About the Role:
Can you see yourself doing something Special?
If so, we need you.
Our Special Constables are a huge part of the West Midlands Police
family. Last year they volunteered over 20 thousand hours to support the
service we offer the public.
They are integral members of our neighbourhood teams, our front-line
response teams, helping to support our most vulnerable victims in Public
Protection, Force CID, Operations, Motorway Policing- the opportunities are
endless.
Now we are looking to increase or numbers as we gear up for some of the
biggest events seen in the West Midlands, like Coventry becoming City of
Culture in 2021 and, of course, Birmingham hosting the Commonwealth Games in
2022.
We need to get ready and we need people who want to volunteer their time
to support us with both day to day policing and large scale operations.
Could that be you?
We are here to prevent crime, protect the public and help those in need.
We value the friendship and service we offer and strive to be courageous and
fair. Our people are proud of what they do and we know the value of continually
listening and learning and we continually grow and evolve.
Does that sound like you? Why not join us?
Working in a voluntary role as a Special Constable offers a rewarding
opportunity to help make a difference in our local communities our special
constables work alongside our regular officers. You could be patrolling with
our neighbourhood teams, responding to emergency calls, opening investigations,
working with traffic or policing major events.
We are beginning to plan for #Birmingham2022 and #Coventry2021. Exciting
times lie ahead for our region and we need people to support our large-scale
operations that will swing into action for these major events. Our Volunteers,
whether they are warranted Special Constables or people performing specialist
police volunteer roles in our communities, will play an ever-valuable role in
protecting the public and helping those in need.
To become a Special Constable you should be prepared to train hard in
your own time during evenings and weekends and be willing to offer a minimum of
sixteen hours per month to perform the role. In return we offer full training
and support to ensure you are prepared and fully equipped.
Who are we looking for?
Individuals who share our values and have a real passion for people and
communities, with a desire to make a difference through policing in the West
Midlands. Good communicators with a calm, confident personality; problem
solvers; team players; and people who easily build relationships and response
other people. We welcome applications from all members of our local communities
as we continue to promote diversity across the whole of our workforce.
Our current Specials come from all walks of life- we have a pilot , a
medical doctor, students, stay at home parents, teachers, bank workers, other
WMP staff..... the list is endless!
We want Specials and volunteers from all of the diverse communities
across the West Midlands, this is a great chance to give back and share your
experience.
What are we looking for
Good communicators with a calm, confident personality; problem solvers; team players; trust builders and people who easily build relationships, respect other people and appreciate views from communities across the region.
Successful applicants will be joining the second largest police force in
England, covering an area of 348 square miles and serving a population of
almost 2.8 million.
Eligibility Requirements:
Below is a summary of the basic eligibility criteria a more detailed can be found on the College of Policing website.
Education
There is no formal educational requirement, but you will be required to pass written tests.
Age
To apply to the Police Service you must be at least 18 years old. There is no upper limit.
Residency
You must be a British citizen or a citizen of a country that is a member of the European Economic Area or Switzerland. Commonwealth citizens and other foreign nationals are also eligible but only if they are resident in the UK free of restrictions. If you have recently resided abroad we need to be able to check your previous three years (including employment, education and/or residency).
Membership of British National Party and
similar
The Police
Service has a policy prohibiting any of their officers, staff or
volunteers from becoming members of the British National Party (BNP). Combat 18
or the National Front, whose aims, objectives or pronouncements may contradict the
duty to promote race equality. If you are a member of the BNP or similar, your
application will be rejected.
Criminal Convictions
Convictions or
cautions will not necessarily preclude you from appointment. It will depend on
their nature and the circumstances of the offence. However, failure to
disclose convictions or cautions will result in your application being refused.
Business Interests
Certain
occupations may preclude applicants from being special constables, for example
neighbourhood and street wardens, and those involved in the administration of
the law. Other roles which are precluded include security occupations which
hold a Security Industry Association (SIA) licence.
Health, fitness, eyesight and disability
Applicants must be in good health, of sound constitution and able both physically and mentally to perform the duties of a Special Constable once appointed. You will need to be physically fit and able to pass the job related fitness test (standard bleep test.)
You will
undergo medical screening. You will also need to meet the minimum eyesight
standards for corrected (glasses or contact lenses) and uncorrected vision. For
more information go to www.police.couldyou.co.uk
Tattoos
Tattoos are not
a bar to appointment. However, some tattoos could potentially offend members of
the public or colleagues, or could bring discredit to the Police Service. It
depends on their size, nature and location. If you have tattoos on your face,
neck, forearms or hands you will be asked to provide at least two photographs
of each tattoo.
Tattoos are
unacceptable if they:
- undermine the dignity and authority of the office of constable;
- could cause offence to members of the public or colleagues and/or invite provocation;
- are garish or numerous or particularly prominent;
- indicate unacceptable attitudes towards women, minority groups or any other section of the community;
- indicate alignment with a particular group that could give offence to members of the public or colleagues and/or are considered to be discriminatory, rude, lewd, crude, racist, sexist, sectarian, homophobic, violent or intimidating.
Financial Position
Special
Constables are in a privileged position with regard to access to information
and could be considered potentially vulnerable to corruption. Applicants to the
Police Service should not therefore be under pressure from undischarged debts
or liabilities and should be able to manage loans and debts sensibly. Most
applicants have debts, such as mortgages, undischarged student or other loans,
and credit/store cards. Debts which are within your means and are manageable
are not a bar to appointment.
Applicants who
have existing County Court judgements outstanding against then or have been
registered as bankrupt and their bankruptcy debts have not been discharged will
not be considered.
Applicants who
have discharged County Court judgements may be considered.
Applicants who
have been registered as bankrupt and their bankruptcy debts have been
discharged will only be considered after three years from discharge of the
debt.
Applicants who
are the subject of a current individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) may not be
considered.
You will need
to pass all Force security and medical checks.
If you don not meet the eligibility criteria or can not commit the time, you maybe be
interested in one of our other volunteering roles. We are looking for people
who can support some of our specialist teams, whether it’s to deliver crime
prevention information in communities, support our team of historians, walk our
police puppies, or offer key skills to some specialist teams – take a look at
the many opportunities to volunteer in our careers portal -
https://jobs.west-midlands.police.uk/