Ever Thought About Becoming A Special Constable?

londondealer

The title says it all really.

Your probably wondering how becoming a voluntary police officer is going to make money for you?

As a special constable you have to agree to volunteer 200 hours per year. I am a special in the Metropolitan police service.

As part of being a special you get free travel entitlement on the underground and buses. Obviously its not totally free in that if you see or witness anything you will be expected to deal with it.

But that free travel could save you thousands a year in travel expenses.

So if you have thought about doing a voluntary role and want to give something back to the community you live in, its worth thinking about it?

COOLTRIKERCHICK

no i would not even consider a position like that....

no offence to you and i do repsect your decision to take on board this voluntary position.... but i feel its just a way for the police to say money and put specials on the ground to be subject to vebal abuse etc...

there are a few specials in one of the local villages.. and to be honest no one respects them at all.... and they are laughed at as people know they are just treated like muppets by the police

going back to what benefit you say you get with free transport, maybe in london it would save you money.. but in all honest i dont think people should take on this type of position. just because they can save on their travelling cost... as your life potentially could be in danger by stupid thugs on the street...

but thank you for posting, there could be someone reading who would be interested....

londondealer

No problem. Maybe its different in the MET, I am treated just as a police officer by the regulars....but have to say I do understand the "muppets" comment!

Regarding policing on the cheap. Did you know that specials were around before the regulars?

COOLTRIKERCHICK

londondealer wrote: »

No problem. Maybe its different in the MET, I am treated just as a police officer by the regulars....but have to say I do understand the "muppets" comment!

Regarding policing on the cheap. Did you know that specials were around before the regulars?

is this going back a few hundred years ? as i am sure i have read or seen on tv something about policing was done by local village people, and then it started to get regulated, with uniforms and rules and standards etc...

londondealer

Yes indeed the only point I was trying to make that its nothing new. We are accused of being a cheap policing option.

culpepper

OH is one and he is treated as a regular where he serves.
He has been injured twice on duty, thankfully nothing life threatening but enough to be compensated.
He receives expenses for travel to and from the station and meal money if he is on for a certain length of time.
He has first aid training and driver training and has martialed at the london marathon and the tour de france when it came here last year.
Specials are not the same as the paid community support officers who I think are seen as far less useful by the general public.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

londondealer wrote: »

Yes indeed the only point I was trying to make that its nothing new. We are accused of being a cheap policing option.

but this was before the police were established.. but in this day and age.. now that the police is in force and here to protect etc... and with so many police stations being unmanned, and no local bobby's pounding the beat, due to lack of funds etc... i do still think this is a cop out ( excuse the pun) by the police... and the government.. and they want the general public to volunter to do their jobs for them..

but as an way of upping your income.../ or saving on travel expenses.. i feel there is a bit to much personal risk..

but i am not saying.. if someone wants to do it.. as a personal thing.... then go for it...if you are prepared to take the risk and to be honest the stick that comes with it...

i also want to say to you personally.. you must have very broad shoulders.. and i do applaud you for your dedication... for doing it especially around the london area..:T

Austin_Allegro

I don't agree that the Special Constabulary is 'policing on the cheap'. (That's the PCSOs as far as I can see). It's an important part of our common law tradition that law and order are maintained at least partly by ordinary, unpaid, unarmed citizens, rather than an armed state militia as on the continent.

I just wish someone would tell that to some of the criminals we have around these days! Well done to anyone who volunteers.

marklar_2

Humberside Police are (or were) trialing a system where Special Constables have their council tax fee wavered and get a further financial reward for their service.
It all adds up to be quite a bit of extra income.

I do not believe they are 'policing on the cheap', some large scale events (such as football matches) use a large number of special constables as the demand for police assistance at these events is difficult to be met simply by regular, full-time police force.