Tag: Special Constabulary

Final Focus inside UWE Bristol’s Professional Policing Degree & Special Constabulary

Author Paul Williamson | Posted on

In the final instalment of this blog series, we meet Trinni Dagger, a UWE Bristol Professional Policing Degree (PPD) student who has combined her studies with volunteering as a Special Constable with Avon and Somerset Police. From her first open evening at UWE to completing over 650 hours on response shifts, Trinni shares how the PPD has helped her build confidence, understand police powers in practice, and confirm that policing is the career for her.

Discovering the Professional Policing Degree

To join the police, you need a degree and when I attended a UWE open evening, this course was shown to me. Even when I was younger, I have always said that I wanted to be a police officer, so I was very keen to join. I wanted to do CID originally when I joined the degree because I thought I was too small be an officer but after specialling, I have come to the conclusion that I do in-fact want to be an officer.

This PPD course has helped with my understanding of offences and powers. It has also helped with my decision making on shift.

Gaining Experience through the Special Constabulary

I was made aware about the Special Constabulary by our Programme Leader Christian during the first year of university. This allowed us time to prepare to apply during the second year. I wanted to gain experience on shift (try before you buy) to make sure that this is what I really want to do. I also wanted to be able to put what I learnt at university into action.

In terms of the online National Sift, I found that this process is a little confusing in the way that it can fail you on your decisions of you as a person. I find that it’s a harsh way to stop people from applying due to not giving the answers they want when technically there shouldn’t be a right or wrong answer. My top tip is to take your time when answering and ensure that you definitely read the questions correctly. 

The application process is straight forward as in they communicate the next steps and dates for things really well. The recruitment process is a LARGE commitment, from the interview, the training and after when you are on shift. I am very proud to be a Special and it is one of the best experiences. For the interview, they allow you 10 mins before to plan your answers to the questions (they also allow extra time/ coloured paper if you have any additional needs). The fitness test is more mind over matter, and you only have to run to 5.4 on the beep test. Try not to stress about it too much, you can redo it if needs be (same with the interview). The health screening was also simple, the drugs test is a small part of your hair cut, and your mouth swabbed. The hearing and sight test were over within minutes.

Training, Teamwork and Learning on the Job

The initial training provided by Avon and Somerset Police (ASP) is limited to only 6 weekends, so be prepared to feel as though you are not ready when you start but speak with your tutor and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you are willing to get stuck in, then your team will have no complaints. The training I believe is now changing to 10 weekends. The training was great fun, and you make some very good connections with other people.

I trained along a wide range of people, some who had full time jobs and wanted to do something else alongside. Others had been officers before and wanted to come back without the shift pattens. Some didn’t have A levels so were using this as a way to be involved in policing and hopefully join full time after. Some worked in police departments and wanted to see another side of policing. Most people were doing it as a try before you buy. Some workplaces have signed up to allow paid time off to people who are specials, allowing them more opportunities to go on shift.  There were no differences in motivation or background between me and other recruits, and everyone seemed just as motivated to be there. People were always willing to help one another when they got stuck. You grow some lovely bonds with people.

Applying Classroom Knowledge to Real Situations

The Professional Policing Degree has helped me with understanding our powers and offences. It gives you a foundation, but there is still so much to learn when you become an officer. The training provided by ASP for special’s is more practical, it teaches you ways to defend yourself, how to write reports, some of the offences and what powers officers have. Alongside uni you learn a lot, and I feel as though you really start learning on the job.  Most areas you learn quick on the job, after doing it for some time you realise jobs are very similar in the sense of how you deal with it (questions asked/ actions taken) and it just changes with the situation. I found that I knew the caution very well when I started but I also felt initially overwhelmed. It’s not until you get to doing an actual job that you really start learning (I am a visual learner though).

Looking Ahead

When I graduate, I hope to join back to Patchway Team 4 Response, as I have grown a very good bond with my team (I have around 650 hours since the start of the year, I average around 4-6 shifts a set, a set is 6 shifts – so I’m in a lot). I have really enjoyed response despite how stressful the job is (the paperwork is also a lot). I’m hoping to get my independent patrol status before I join as I will then join on a higher pay bracket (I’m currently finishing tier 2, on tier 3, after tier 3 you get your independence). I can apply to join full-time in January as they go off predicted grades, but you have to graduate the same year.

For now, I wish to stay in response as I am very much enjoying it. I then think I want to join firearms. I don’t have much of an interest in traffic and CID is something I will investigate when I’m older. I enjoy going out on the initial jobs and I hope to keep developing as an officer and gain as many skills as I can. I really hope to get response and taser trained.

Advice for Future Applicants

If you are wanting to join the police or are not sure if you should this is defiantly something to consider. It’s an amazing opportunity and allows you to understand policing and put what you have learnt to good use. It also looks good on your CV and will allow your connections to be able to see what route you really wish to follow. If specialling seems too much, then I definitely recommend signing up for a ride along. This will allow you to see policing before you even apply to be a special. I do not regret my decision at all; it’s defiantly a big commitment but it has been worth it. I have seen myself grow as a person and I am very proud of some of the jobs I have done.

This role has also shown me how much the police actually deal with. Response officers not only go to the 999 calls, but they also carry case files that they need to progress with witness statements, interviews and more. It’s defiantly a hard going job with not only the job being demanding but the workload to. The number of officers does not meet the demand, so if police take longer to get to jobs than first thought its due to the this and officers being swept off their feet. It’s definitely a rewarding job and the bond you build with your team is very strong. There’s a lot more to policing then just officers in uniform driving around.

We would like to thank Trinni, Cece and Harvey for their honest and inspiring look at student life on the PPD at UWE Bristol during this series.

Anyone interested in applying for the PPD can find out more information here

If you are also interested in joining the Special Constabulary, you can find out more information here

Editorial Team

Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer) and Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer).

If you would like to be a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.ac.uk

Inside the Professional Policing Degree & Special Constabulary

Author Paul Williamson | Posted on

In this second blog of our series spotlighting the experiences of students on UWE Bristol’s Professional Policing Degree (PPD), we share the journey of Cece Delaney-Melville. From discovering an interest in policing during her A-levels to balancing her studies with volunteering as a Special Constable with Avon and Somerset Police, Cece offers a personal insight into the challenges, rewards, and opportunities of taking this path. Over to Cece…

Introduction to Policing

In A-levels I studied criminology, psychology, and law, this is what sparked my interest within policing.

I did not always know that I wanted to pursue a career in policing. My father was a firefighter, which first inspired my interest in a role that involved helping others, although I knew that path was not the right one for me. My interest in policing developed further once I began my studies, as I gained a deeper understanding of the various aspects of the role and the many ways in which officers support the community. Additionally, the variety and unpredictability of each day in policing have only strengthened my passion for pursuing this career.  It has widened my knowledge to the different thing policing is involved in and the many roles there are within policing.

Discovering the Special Constabulary

I was not aware of this opportunity at the start. Our Programme Leader Christian informed me within the first week of the PPD and highlighted the benefits of joining as a Special Constable. After learning more about it, I was immediately keen to apply.

What motivated me was the valuable experience I would gain and how this would complement my degree. Becoming a Special Constable allows me to apply the knowledge from my studies to real-life situations, as well as bring practical insights from policing back into my academic work. It also provides me with invaluable first-hand experience of the role, giving me a clear understanding of what to expect when I join the police full time.

Application and Recruitment Process

In relation to the UK National Sift process, I found this stage straightforward, it was easy to do, and you just answer the questions as you believe.

The online application was straightforward. However, the interview was slightly stressful, but this is normal like any other interview you go to you would be nervous. You are given a range of questions and topics you will discuss within the interview prior to the day. The best thing you can do is answer the questions as you would in the interviews and memorise your answers. On the day of the interview, you will be given 10-15 minutes to write down any notes you have on flashcards to jog your memory. For the health screening you will be asked to attend the HQ where they will take your fingerprints a hair sample to test for drugs and you will be weighed, measured and asked basic health questions. Additionally, you will do a hearing and an eye test. The ladies who did my health screening for me where lovely and helpful so do not worry! And finally, the bleep test! I was nervous about this due to the fact it was a pass or fail assessment however it is only 3.7, which is basically a light jog!

Training Experience

My training cohort had 16 people, and these weekends were really fun and informative. The training stretched across 7 weekends. The first was an introduction weekend where you received your uniform and laptop making it feel all a bit more real.  Then the rest of the weekends were grouped into learning the National Decision Model (NDM) and values of the force, legislation, first aid, policing roads, and PPST which is where you get to use your batons and learn take downs and other tactics. This is a really fun weekend, and I recommended you book to stay at the HQ! Then finally your graduation weekend!

The people I trained with were from many walks of life. I was one of the youngest and the only university student. However, other people had full time jobs such as a neuroscientist, comms operators, BT workers, paramedics and lots more.

There were different motivators for everyone. Some did it as they always wanted to be an officer but their career took them elsewhere so this was something they could do alongside working, however a lot of people used the specials as a stepping stone to join the police full time.

Support from the PPD Degree

The PPD has helped me a lot with being a special. The biggest thing is helping me understand the people I meet out on duty, the theories you will learn in this degree are extremely relevant.

The training provided by the force is short and sweet and you may feel like you’re not really ready to go out and start policing (I know I did) but that’s where the degree will help you. The in-depth discussions and teaching that is provided at university will help you feel more confident.

First Shifts and Challenges

I did not feel prepared on my first shift, and this is completely normal! You are doing something you’ve never done before. However, I feel as though I am quite a sociable person so felt like I would be prepared to speak with members of the public although I do not think anything will prepare you for your first rude or quite aggressive encounters you can have with the members of the public and how you deal with those in a professional manner. You must remember that sometimes you will deal with people who are having the worst day of their lives, and you must show a level of respect and empathy towards them even if they have not been pleasant to you.

Future Career Aspirations

I plan to do some travelling once I leave university and then join Hampshire Constabulary as its closer to home for me and therefore also me to save some money for the future. However, in the future I would like to transfer back to Avon and Somerset.

I am open to specialise in a particular area although not sure what yet. However, I am really enjoying being a response officer at the moment. In the police you also have the opportunity to do attachments with specific areas within the force. This is good as you can almost try before you buy. I am hoping to become a full-time officer.

Advice for Future Specials

My advice would be to do it!

You are only required to do 16 hours a month which isn’t a lot and trust me you will want to do more than this anyway! They are extremely flexible for students who go home for university, as long as you make up the minimum hours within the year it doesn’t matter. It can be quite a daunting experience and quite long winded through the application stages but as soon as you start you will love it. Additionally, there is such a big support system, and if you are struggling or need help with anything there a people there to help you! I smashed my phone on the first day of training and I had a new one the next week so don’t worry about anything.

The regulars welcome Special’s with open arms as they need every set of hands they can get so don’t be worried about that. And don’t worry if you make a mistake because YOU WILL and that’s okay, everyone is understanding and will help you every step of the way.

I have honestly gained a huge respect for the police and what they do, it can be an incredibly stressful and risky job at times but is extremely rewarding. They do so much and are there to help everyone.

We look forward to further insights from Trinni Dagger in the final blog of this series.

Anyone interested in applying for the PPD can find out more information here

If you are also interested in joining the Special Constabulary, you can find out more information here

Editorial Team

Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer) and Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer).

If you would like to be a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.ac.uk

A New Blog Series from UWE Bristol: Inside the Professional Policing Degree & Special Constabulary

Author Paul Williamson | Posted on

Reflecting the diversity of the Policing Programmes on offer at UWE Bristol, in this new blog series we will hear from three professional policing students who have recently entered the final year of their degree programme. They reflect on their experiences studying on the Professional Policing Degree (PPD) and share their journeys through the successful application process to become Special Constables with Avon and Somerset Police (ASP).

They discuss what inspired them to join the PPD and take on the role of Special Constables, offering insights into each stage of the application process, from the online National Sift questionnaire to the medical assessments, fitness tests, vetting procedures, and the initial training delivered by ASP.

The students were also invited to compare their university education with the practical training provided by the force, exploring the relationship between academic theory and real-world policing practice. Finally, they share their individual reflections, and career aspirations for the future.

This blog series offers a personal and informative look into the student experience on the PPD and highlights the graduate outcomes that can emerge from the programme.

In this first of the series we hear from Harvey Rogers

Ever since I was young, I have always had an interest in the police and believe that there is no job better in the world. As soon as I found out there was a Professional Policing Degree Programme (PPD), there was no looking back. All throughout my childhood I have always wanted to join the firearms unit in the police and choosing the PPD programme was the first step to achieving that dream. The academic side of the course has been brilliant with helping my understanding of the police and when I am out responding to 999 calls as a Special Constable.

When I started my first year on the PPD course I didn’t even know the Special Constabulary existed! As soon as I found out I could do it alongside my academic learning at UWE I thought it would be a no brainer. I was being told stories about other people’s experiences with the Specials by others on the PPD course and thought it sounded amazing. When applying, one of the first stages to complete is the UK National Sift Process, which involves a Situational Judgement Test (SJT) and Behaviour Style Questions (BSQ), and is designed to assess whether applicants possess the core values and competencies required for policing. This stage was quite straightforward as the aim is to be as trueful to yourself as possible and to see whether you would be a great fit for the police.

After we completed this stage, we had a familiarisation event at Bridgwater Police Centre about the role we have applied for and what we can expect to happen next in the application process. We then had an interview with two police officers a few weeks after which were based on the core values of the police and examples of when we used the National Decision Model (NDM) and our real-life experiences. In my interview I mentioned that I was studying on the PPD programme, and they were really pleased to see young people having an interest in joining the police and agreed that doing it alongside my studies was a great idea. I then heard that I had passed my interview which then led me on to my health screening appointment, which is where I had my fingerprints taken, hair samples for drug testing and a few questions from the nurse at Occupational Health about my health and wellbeing. I then got invited to complete the bleep test which at the time was 5.2 but has now been decreased to 3.7. This was to test officer’s fitness levels which is a key part of the role when joining the police. After I had completed this, my application process had finished, and I was now ready to undertake my training.

The training was split up into 6 weekends (Saturday and Sunday every fortnight) which has now been increased up to 10 weekends. During our time at training school, we learnt key legislation in the classroom, Personal Protective Safety training (PPST) which is where we learn how to apply handcuffs, ASP and PAVA (pepper spray) correctly. We also had weekends where we were learning how to use all of our other kit such as airwave (radio), body worn camera and the key systems on our force laptop and phones and plenty of scenarios where we had to use our powers correctly which we had learnt over the 6 modules. A lot of this comes second nature to students on the PPD course which is brilliant as it also refreshed my memory with a lot of other key legislation.

Training school was great fun with a few evenings out to the pub as well as also practicing techniques we had learnt on our PPST weekends. Personally, my group was an amazing group and felt like a with very like-minded people who also had interests in joining the police alongside their full-time jobs. It was a great mix of students and young adults who were doing it alongside their university courses and their full-time jobs. Everyone had the same motivation to go out there and help protect the public and to improve the relationship between the public and the police with normal working people to help bridge the gap between.

The PPD programme has definitely given me a strong foundation for my role as a Special Constable especially if you want to get a feel for real life policing before applying to become a full-time police officer. The quality and depth of the university education and the in-force training by Avon and Somerset Police were both amazing, including many links to the College of Policing. I felt well prepared when talking around areas of stop and search and the powers involved as well as the custody process when taking a prisoner after they have been arrested. There are many areas where you learn quickly on the job which also can be the best times to learn as these were able to stick in my head.

Now I am going into my final year of the PPD I am looking at applying to become a full-time police officer in Avon and Somerset and have many areas of interest where I would like to specialise in such as Armed Response Unit or any of the Special Ops teams. Over the next few years, I would like to get to grounds with the job role and get as much experience as I can out on the front line before I look to specialise or go for a promotion as a sergeant.

My advice for other PPD students would be to sign up to become a Special Constable I feel like it was such a good decision to actually see whether I would actually like the job before I go full-time and feel it’s such a good way to try before you buy type of thing. It is also great for remembering legislation for uni assignments and being able to put real life scenarios down on paper. The experience of becoming a Special Constable has only made my desire to join the police even higher!

Our thanks to Harvey and we look forward to blogging further insights from Cece Delaney-Melville in the next of this series.

Anyone interested in applying for the PPD at UWE Bristol can find out more information here

If you are also interested in joining the Special Constabulary, you can find out more information here

Editorial Team

Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer) and Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer).

If you would like to be a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.ac.uk

Celebrating Volunteers’ Week: Spotlight on a UWE Lecturer and Special Constable

Author Paul Williamson | Posted on

As we mark Volunteers’ Week, a time to recognise the incredible contributions of volunteers across the UK, we’re proud to shine our spotlight on Jack James, a UWE Policing Senior Lecturer, PhD researcher, and long-serving Special Constable. In this Q&A, Jack shares his journey into policing, what volunteering as a Special Constable means to him, and how this unique dual role helps both his academic and operational work. His story is a powerful reminder of the dedication, resilience, and impact of those who give their valuable time to serve their local communities.

You can find out more about Volunteers’ Week here

Volunteers’ Week celebrates the contribution of millions of people across the UK. What does it mean to you personally to volunteer as a Special Constable?

For me, it is a fantastic way of giving something back to the community. It is a volunteering role like no other, in terms of responsibility and risk, however it is something I have loved doing for the last almost 10 years, and it has enabled me to help make a real difference at times.

Can you tell us a bit about your journey into policing — what motivated you to become a Special Constable?

I became a Special Constable to do something that I felt would help make a difference, as well as with the intention of potentially joining the police full time; almost a decade and 7000 operational policing hours later, I am still volunteering and thoroughly enjoy doing so!

What does a typical shift look like for you as a Special Constable?

I love this question, as I think the answer is that there isn’t a ‘typical shift’ per-se. Reflecting on just a couple of my experiences, one shift I have been responding to 999 calls on the dog unit, dealing with anything from theft to disorder and violence; the next I have been on response and involved in a lifesaving intervention with a person in crisis; the next I have been in the middle of hundreds of violent protesters and counter protesters with just a handful of officers (to name just a few examples!). Special Constables often go to the exact same jobs as their regular counterparts.

How do you balance your role as a lecturer with volunteering as a Special Constable? Do the two roles inform each other?

Being a Special Constable is quite unique in terms of work-life balance, as not only do you have a full-time career, but you also have the responsibility of being a warranted police officer. It takes time to strike that balance; however, I find that forces are generally supporting and encouraging of the fact that family, friends and your career come before your voluntary role. I feel that my career and role as a Special Constable complement each other well. I can bring operational learning and practice into the classroom, which I feel is received well by students. I like the phrase ‘pracademic’, as I feel it sums up where I sit quite nicely.

You’re currently doing PhD research into the retention of Special Constables. What sparked your interest in this area, and what are you hoping to uncover?

When I started to explore volunteering in policing as a research area a couple of years ago, I was shocked to discover just how much of a significant and sustained decline in Special Constables there had been, and continues to be, since it’s height in 2012. The loss of ~14,000 officers (Home Office, 2025) seemed to me like something that needed to be explored and understood, and with such a significant decline, it would not be an unreasonable position to suggest that the Special Constabulary is facing an existential crisis. That, combined with my own lived experiences over the last decade or so as a Special Constable, really motivated me to propose to research this issue at doctoral level, as I feel it is important to do so. My hope is to create an evidence base on why people join, their experiences as a Special Constable, and their reasons for leaving, to hopefully contribute to the future sustainability of the Special Constabulary in England and Wales. 

From your research so far, are there any early insights you can share about why people stay or leave the Special Constabulary?

I often hear the anecdote that “most specials I know join up as regulars”, as a means of explaining the decline in numbers or lack of retention. Interestingly, that conversion rate however has sat at around 40% for around two decades (Britton, 2018). Furthermore, the median length of service for a Special Constable is just 2.2 years, so the majority do not become ‘long serving’ or ‘career Specials’ (Britton, 2024). Research also indicates that the uplift programme has had little impact on Special Constable recruitment, so the knowledge gap is essentially ‘where do the rest go, and why?’. There has not been any qualitative research specifically on Special Constabulary leavers since 1994, which indicated that what leavers were telling forces during exit interviews – often a change in personal circumstances – often did not match what leavers were then telling researchers – feelings of dissatisfaction with the role, a lack of training and investment, police culture towards Special Constables (Mirrlees-Black and Byron, 1994). Policing has changed a lot since, then, however it will be interesting to see if those themes from interviews in the 90’s have also changed. There is some great research on ‘long serving’ Special Constables by Dr Iain Britton that I would recommend to anyone interested in that area specifically.

What do you think policing organisations and higher education institutions can do to better support Special Constables?

I think one of the main issues to address now is the continuing decline in numbers nationally. I feel that policing and academia working together to understand this phenomenon and implement evidence-based change is the best way to better support Special Constables at present.

How do PCDA students respond to hearing about your frontline experience as a volunteer police officer?

I generally feel that student officers respond well, and hope that my operational experiences as a Special Constable are relatable to them. I find that my roles complement each other well, and that it is often beneficial to bring some of that operational experience into the classroom to help contextualise learning. I also feel that sometimes student officers are surprised by some of the incidents I have attended and been exposed to. I think this highlights the important role Special Constables play operationally. Gone are the days of the stereotypical image of a Special Constable policing the village fete; we now carry most of the same kit (I am a Taser officer, for example), receive a lot of the same operational training, can specialise, and attend pretty much everything a regular officer would. There are some fundamental differences between the roles, however anecdotally, I feel that gap has narrowed.

What advice would you give to someone considering joining the Special Constabulary — especially professionals with other commitments?

I cannot recommend the role enough. I have loved the last 9+ years of volunteering as a Special Constable. There absolutely is a balance to strike, and vital to remember that family, friends, and your career come first. However, like any other officer, we carry that warrant card with us on and off duty. It truly is a volunteering role like no other, with a tremendous amount of responsibility, and of course an element of risk, however the reward of helping people and keeping communities safe is just fantastic. 

Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of volunteering in policing?

My hope is that with action at local and national level within policing, as well as close collaboration between policing and academia to better understand Special Constabulary retention and the sustained decline in strength since 2012, that we will see numbers stabilise and maintained within England and Wales. The Special Constabulary has a rich and unique history and makes a significant contribution to policing, and it deserves to thrive.

Our thanks to Jack for contributing to the UWE Policing blog and to all the volunteers out there. If this has inspired you to look at volunteering as a Special Constable you can find out more information about the role and how to apply through this College of Policing link

References

Britton, I. (2018) Analysis of Special Constabulary Statistics. Institute for Public Safety Crime and Justice (online). Available from: https://pure.northampton.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/8419410/Britton_Iain_2018_Analysis_of_Special_Constabulary_National_Statistics_Briefing_Paper_3.pdf

Britton, I. (2024) Where have all the Special Constables gone, and what can we do about it? The Police Foundation (online). Available from: https://www.police-foundation.org.uk/2024/01/where-have-all-the-special-constables-gone-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-long-read/

Home Office (2025) Police workforce, England and Wales (online). Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-30-september-2024/police-workforce-england-and-wales-30-september-2024

Mirrlees-Black, C. and Byron, C. (1994) Special Considerations: Issues for the Management and Organisation of the Volunteer Police (online). London: Home Office. 

Editorial Team

Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer); Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer) & Micah Hassell (Senior Lecturer).

If you would like to be a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.ac.uk

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