Police Pay
Choosing a role 2026

Police Officer vs PCSO
vs Special Constable

Three uniformed roles that look alike on the street and are very different in law. This guide compares their legal status, powers, pay, entry rules, training, hours and pensions from the legislation and College of Policing guidance, then walks through how to work out which one fits you.

Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 1 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated

Short answer: what is the difference?

A police officer is a paid, attested constable with full powers. A special constable is an unpaid volunteer who is also attested and, by law, has all the powers of a constable throughout England and Wales. A PCSO is paid police staff with only the powers the chief officer designates, which cannot include a constable's arrest or stop and search powers. Hours, entry rules and training vary by force.

Contents
The Three RolesSide by SideLegal StatusPowers & ArrestPay & PensionEntry Rules2026 Record RuleTraining & HoursMoving Between RolesWhich Fits YouWhat to AskMythsNot Verified FAQs Sources

This page covers England and Wales. Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland have their own legislation and are not covered. Where something is set by law we cite it; where it is College of Policing guidance we say so; where each force decides, we tell you that instead of guessing. It is information to help you compare, not advice about which role you should choose.

The three roles in one paragraph each

Police officer (regular constable). A member of a police force, attested as a constable under section 29 of the Police Act 1996 and given all the powers and privileges of a constable throughout England and Wales by section 30(1). Officers are paid on a national pay scale, are governed by the Police Regulations 2003, and since 17 March 2026 every new constable candidate (other than a transferee) must pass the four national recruitment stages set out in regulation 10(1)(eb).

Special constable. A volunteer appointed by the chief officer under section 27 of the Police Act 1996, under the chief officer's direction and control. Specials are attested in the same way as regular officers (section 29) and section 30(2) gives them all the powers and privileges of a constable throughout England and Wales. The College of Policing describes the Special Constabulary as a force of warranted, uniformed volunteer police officers. Specials are not paid a salary.

Police community support officer (PCSO). A member of police staff (an employee) whom the chief officer designates as a community support officer under section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002. A PCSO is not attested and is not a constable. Their powers are whatever the designation gives them, and the Act bars certain constable powers, including arrest and stop and search, from ever being designated. The College calls PCSOs non-warranted officers.

Side by side: officer, special constable and PCSO

The whole comparison in one table. "Force" means the force sets it locally, so check the recruitment page of the force you are interested in.

Area Police officer Special constable PCSO Main source
Legal statusMember of a police force; attested constableVolunteer appointed by the chief officer; attested constable; not a member of the forcePolice staff employee designated by the chief officer; not attestedPolice Act 1996 ss27, 29, 30; Police Reform Act 2002 s38
PaidYes, national constable pay scaleNo salary; expenses and locally approved allowances onlyYes, police staff pay set locallySpecial Constables Regs 1965 reg 4; College PCSO handbook
PowersAll powers of a constable throughout England and WalesAll powers of a constable throughout England and WalesOnly the powers in the designation, normally exercised in the force areaPolice Act 1996 s30; Police Reform Act 2002 s38(6B), (6E)
ArrestYes, a constable's powersYes, a constable's powersNo constable's arrest power; may detain up to 30 minutes if designated; anyone's PACE s24A powerPolice Reform Act 2002 Schs 3B and 3C; PACE s24A
UniformPolice uniformUniformed (force decides the detail)Should be recognisable as police staff but visibly distinct from officersCollege special constables guidance; PCSO handbook
HoursShift work including evenings and weekends; part-time possible under reg 5No national minimum; most forces ask an average of at least 16 hours a monthContract of employment; forceJoining the Police; College special constables guidance
Entry requirementsRegulation 10: age 18 to be appointed, nationality, qualification or experience from Annex BA, health, eyesight, vetting clearance, no automatic disqualification1965 regulation 1: age 18 to be appointed, nationality, English and numeracy, good character, good health, drug testSet by each forcePolice Regulations 2003 reg 10; Special Constables Regs 1965 reg 1; College joining as a PCSO
Recruitment stagesNational application form, national sift, online assessment, in-person force interview (law since March 2026)Force application, national sift and in-force interview (College)Force process; College online assessments are used for PCSO recruitmentReg 10(1)(eb); College joining as a special; College adjustments guide
TrainingPCDA (3 years), PCEP or DHEP (2 years), or pre-join degreeSpecial constable learning programme, aligned with year one of the PCDA12-month level 4 programme in forces running the new learningCollege entry routes, SCLP and PCSO pages
Probation2 years, or 3 on the apprenticeshipYes, for a period the Home Secretary determinesEmployment matter for the forcePolice Regulations 2003 regs 12 and 13; Joining the Police
PensionPolice Pension Scheme 2015 (normal pension age 60)None found for special constable serviceLGPS where employed by a chief constable or PCC; Civil Service schemes in the MetPSPA 2013 s10; LGPS Regs 2013 Sch 2; Superannuation Act 1972 Sch 1
How to applyTo the force, through the national processDirectly to the force when it opens recruitmentTo the force's PCSO vacanciesCollege joining pages; Joining the Police
Two free tools for this decision

If money is part of the decision, our should I join the police calculator compares your current salary with constable pay and pension over ten years (an estimate for the paid officer role, not financial advice). Then use the police force finder to open the recruitment pages of the forces near you and see which of the three roles each is currently recruiting for.

Legal status: constable, volunteer constable or police staff

The difference that drives everything else is who is a constable. Section 29 of the Police Act 1996 says every member of a police force and every special constable must, on appointment, be attested as a constable by making the declaration in Schedule 4 before a justice of the peace. A PCSO makes no such declaration: their authority comes from a designation by the chief officer under section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002.

  • Regular officers are members of a police force. Their pay, hours, leave and probation are governed by the Police Regulations 2003 and Home Office determinations.
  • Specials are appointed by the chief officer "in accordance with regulations" under section 51 (section 27(1)) and are under the chief officer's direction and control and subject to dismissal by them (section 27(2)). Their own regulations are the Special Constables Regulations 1965, and some Police Regulations also apply to them, such as regulations 12 and 13 on probation.
  • PCSOs are civilian staff of the force. Section 38(11) defines the people who can be designated as members of the civilian staff of the force (and, for some other forces, employees under the chief officer's direction and control). The College PCSO handbook says recruitment and terms and conditions of police staff are a local matter for chief officers and police and crime commissioners.

One practical consequence of special constable status: regulation 1ZB of the 1965 regulations says a candidate is not eligible if they, or a relative, have a business interest to be kept after appointment unless the chief officer approves it. "Business interest" includes holding any office or employment for hire or gain, so a special with a day job needs it approved, and certain licensing or gambling interests of close relatives in the force area are also covered.

Powers and arrest: what each role can actually do

Officers and specials. Section 30 of the Police Act 1996 gives both a member of a police force (subsection 1) and a special constable (subsection 2) "all the powers and privileges of a constable throughout England and Wales" and the adjacent UK waters. Legally, a special's powers are the same as a regular constable's and are not limited to their own force area. How a force deploys its specials, and whether a new special patrols alone, is a separate matter covered under training below.

PCSOs. The PCSO powers in Schedule 4 to the Police Reform Act 2002 were removed by the Policing and Crime Act 2017 (fully in force from 15 December 2017). Under the current section 38(6B), a chief officer can give a PCSO any power or duty of a constable except those in Part 1 of Schedule 3B, plus any of the community support officer powers in Schedule 3C. The College PCSO handbook says chief officers should only designate the powers their PCSOs need, and that powers vary between forces.

PCSO power or limit What the law says Where
Cannot be givenAny constable's power or duty to arrest; to stop and search a person or vehicle; custody officer functions; powers only for higher ranks; powers under the Terrorism Acts, the National Security Act 2023 and some other security legislationSch 3B Part 1
Fixed penalty noticesFor litter, graffiti and fly-posting, listed byelaws and some London local authority offences, if designatedSch 3C para 2
Name and addressCan require them for relevant offences, including offences causing injury, alarm or distress or loss or damage to property; failing to comply is an offenceSch 3C para 3
Alcohol, tobacco, drugsSearch for and seize alcohol or tobacco a person has refused to surrender; seize controlled drugs or psychoactive substances held unlawfullySch 3C paras 4 to 6
DetentionCan require a person to wait up to 30 minutes for a constable if they refuse to give a name and address, or the PCSO reasonably suspects it is false; the person may choose to go with the PCSO to a police station instead; making off is an offenceSch 3C para 7
Searching a detained personIf they may be a danger or may have something to help them escape; outer clothing only in publicSch 3C para 8
Reasonable forceSame entitlement as a constable where the power includes force; force to stop a detained person making offs38(8); Sch 3C para 11
Entry by forceOnly with and supervised by a constable, or to save life or limb or prevent serious damage to propertys38(9)
WeaponsMust not be authorised to use a firearm, but CS and PAVA spray are excepted; the College handbook says spray, handcuffs and batons are options, not expected as a matter of courses38(9A), (9B); PCSO handbook

The citizen's arrest point. Section 24A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 lets any person other than a constable arrest someone who is committing, or whom they reasonably suspect of committing or having committed, an indictable offence, but only where it is necessary for one of the listed reasons (to prevent injury, loss or damage to property, or the person making off) and it is not reasonably practicable for a constable to do it. The College PCSO handbook confirms that PCSOs keep this power and common law powers. It is the same narrow power any member of the public has, not a policing power.

Pay, expenses and pensions

Police officers. Constables are paid on a national scale. From 1 September 2026, the scale for constables appointed since 1 April 2013 runs from about £32,255 at point 1 to about £52,015 at point 7 (the 2025/26 official figures plus the confirmed 3.5% award, rounded; the Home Office's own table may differ by a few pounds), before London weighting and allowances. See police pay scales 2026 or work out take-home pay with the police salary calculator.

Special constables. Regulation 4(4) of the Special Constables Regulations 1965 says a special "shall not be entitled to any remuneration" except as the regulations provide. What they do provide:

  • Out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred on duty, or an allowance instead (regulation 4(1)).
  • An allowance for loss of earnings from private employment while required for duty, and allowances for other matters the local policing body approves, at amounts and conditions it sets (regulation 4(2) and (3)). Home Office guidance (2022) notes specials would normally only be expected on duty outside working hours, with court attendance given as an example of when that may be unavoidable.
  • Sick pay where a special loses private earnings because of an injury or disease on duty or travelling to or from duty, for as long as the loss lasts or 28 weeks, whichever is less, less statutory sick pay or sickness benefit (regulation 5).
  • An optional Special Constables' Allowance that a local policing body may pay, on the chief officer's recommendation, at a rate it sets (regulation 5A). Whether your force pays one is local.

PCSOs. PCSOs are salaried. The College PCSO handbook says police staff terms and conditions are a local matter, with reference to the Police Staff Council agreements where a force applies them, so there is no single national PCSO salary. We do not quote PCSO figures here; our PCSO pay and salary guide explains how force grading works.

Pensions. New officers join the police pension scheme under the Police Pensions Regulations 2015, and section 10 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 sets its normal pension age at 60. Schedule 2 to the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013 lists police and crime commissioners and chief constables as scheme employers, so a PCSO employed by a chief constable can be an active LGPS member; see our PCSO pension guide. The Metropolitan Police is the exception: its Commissioner is not a chief constable in that sense (the 2011 Act's definition covers forces for the police areas in Schedule 1 to the Police Act 1996, not the metropolitan police district), and "employment by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis" is listed in Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Act 1972, the list of employments the Civil Service pension arrangements can cover. We found no pension provision for special constable service in the 1965 regulations. We do not give pension amounts on this page.

Entry requirements for each role

Police officer. Regulation 10 of the Police Regulations 2003 sets the legal minimum: apply from 17 and be 18 before appointment; be a UK or EEA national or have indefinite leave to enter or remain; hold a qualification or experience the chief officer selects from the Home Office list (Annex BA, usually level 3 for the apprenticeship and entry programme, a degree for the degree holder route); be certified fit; meet the eyesight standard; pass the English and numeracy assessments; pass the four national recruitment stages; not be automatically disqualified; and hold vetting clearance. The full list, with sources, is in our police entry requirements guide and the qualifications guide.

Special constable. Regulation 1 of the Special Constables Regulations 1965 says a candidate:

  • must, if not a UK or EEA national, have leave to enter or remain in the UK for an indefinite period;
  • must satisfy the chief officer of their written and spoken English and numeracy by passing assessments the chief officer determines;
  • must have reached 17, and must be 18 before being appointed;
  • must be of good character and in good health;
  • must, unless transferring from another area, give a hair, oral fluid or urine sample for a drugs test if asked.

An offer is conditional on fingerprints and a sample being taken and searched (regulation 1ZA). The regulations list no academic qualification. The College says recruitment of specials is done locally, that forces consider nationality, age, fitness, financial status and criminal convictions (of the applicant and close family or associates), and that applicants complete a national sift (a situational judgement test and a behavioural styles questionnaire) and an in-force interview, assessed against the competency and values framework at level 1. Fitness tests and residency rules for specials are set by forces; check yours. Our guide to PCSO and special constable fitness tests sets out what the College says, with force examples.

PCSO. The College says eligibility for PCSOs is set by each force, and applications go to your chosen force. Its reasonable adjustments guide for the national sift, online assessment process and in-force interview says it applies to applicants for police constable, special constable and PCSO roles, so you may meet some of the same online stages. Before designating anyone, the chief officer must be satisfied they are suitable, capable and adequately trained (section 38(4)).

Vetting applies to all three roles. The detail of how PCSO and special vetting compare with officer vetting is in our PCSO, special constable and staff vetting guide. Whichever role you apply for, answer every vetting question honestly and completely.

The 2026 automatic disqualification rule: who it covers

Since 13 July 2026, regulation 10(2A) of the Police Regulations 2003 says a candidate is automatically disqualified if they received a custodial sentence, are or have been subject to sex offender notification, were convicted or cautioned for a listed offence (or convicted of an attempt or conspiracy to commit one), or were convicted or cautioned for an offence involving domestic abuse. The full list is in our criminal record guide.

  • Police officer candidates: the rule applies (regulation 10(1)(ha)).
  • Special constable candidates: the Home Office explanatory memorandum to SI 2026/653 says the instrument applies to police candidates and serving officers, "together with special constables", and Thames Valley Police says it is legally unable to appoint a police officer or special constable who falls into these categories. The regulation 10 wording itself refers to appointment to a police force, and the revised Special Constables Regulations 1965 on legislation.gov.uk show no 2026 amendment. Ask the force you are applying to how it applies the rule; do not assume a force will treat specials differently.
  • PCSO candidates: the same memorandum says the College's Vetting Code of Practice remains applicable to police staff, so the statutory candidate rules are not described as applying to PCSOs. Convictions are still considered in PCSO vetting under the Code and force policy.
Be completely honest

Declare every conviction, caution and police contact the form asks about, for every role. An undeclared matter found in vetting is treated far more seriously than one you disclosed. If you are unsure whether something is a listed offence, ask the force vetting unit before you apply; the vetting impact checker gives a rough first read.

Training, probation and the time commitment

Role Initial learning Stages or probation Commitment
Police officerPCDA (three years, degree), PCEP (two years, no qualification), DHEP (two years, graduate diploma) or a short programme after a pre-join degreeProbation of two years, or three on the apprenticeship (Joining the Police; College)A job with shifts, including evenings and weekends; ask about part-time or caring restrictions
Special constableSpecial constable learning programme (SCLP), based on year one of the PCDA, set at level 4 but not accreditedPhase one and personal safety training, then accompanied patrol, directed patrol (College estimate 18 to 24 months on average), phase two and qualified special constable status; probation under reg 12No national minimum; most forces ask an average of at least 16 hours a month
PCSO12-month level 4 programme (apprenticeship or stand-alone) leading to a Certificate or Diploma in Community Policing Practice, in forces running the new learningMust be adequately trained before designation (s38(4)); probation is an employment matter for the forceEmployment contract set by the force

The College's special constable training guidance explains that directed patrol status does not make a special fully independent: they should be deployed in a supervised or managed environment. After phase two in a chosen area of policing (response, communities, roads, intelligence or investigation), a special can become a qualified special constable in that area, which the College estimates takes four to six months on average after directed patrol. To have parity with independent patrol status, or to become a regular constable, a special needs phase two and evidence of competence in all five areas, which the College estimates at around two years after directed patrol. These are College averages, not guarantees.

Regulation 12 of the Police Regulations 2003 puts special constables on probation for a period the Home Secretary determines, and regulation 13 lets the chief officer dispense with a probationer's services (constable or special) if they are not fit or not likely to become efficient or well-conducted. For hours, the College says there is no nationally mandated amount for specials; it is local force policy. Some employers also give staff paid time off to volunteer as specials through employer supported policing. Force training schedules for specials are compared in our special constable guide, and officer training in police training: what to expect.

Moving between roles: special or PCSO first, then officer

Neither role is a required first step, and neither leads automatically to a constable post. What the rules do provide:

  • Qualification for entry. Annex BA (Home Office Circular 002/2024) lets a chief officer accept, for the PCDA and PCEP routes, service as a special constable or as a PCSO designated under section 38 for a period the chief officer specifies, instead of a level 3 qualification. The period and any conditions are set by each force.
  • Recognised learning. The College says special constable learning is aligned with the first year of the PCDA and that a special who becomes a regular constable will have their learning and experience taken into account, so they do not duplicate it. It says the PCSO programme can be mapped across to the PCDA, and its PCSO handbook describes recognition of prior learning for PCSOs moving to the PCDA or DHEP.
  • Same application. The national recruitment site says specials can apply to become paid constables but must apply in the usual way. Since 17 March 2026 regulation 10(1)(eb) requires every constable candidate to pass the four national stages unless they are transferring from another police force; it contains no exemption for serving specials or PCSOs.
  • Fingerprints. Regulation 10A, which makes an officer offer conditional on fingerprints, a sample and a speculative search, does not apply to a candidate who is a serving special constable.
  • What changes for a PCSO who becomes an officer. Pay moves to the national constable scale and future pension to the police scheme. The PCSO to police officer guide covers the move.

Which one fits you: a step-by-step way to compare

This is a way to organise your own thinking, not a recommendation. Work through it with the recruitment pages of the forces you could join open beside you.

  1. Decide whether you need an income from policing. If you need a salary, it is officer or PCSO. Special constable work is unpaid, so it suits people who want to keep their current job and volunteer around it.
  2. Decide how much legal power and risk you want. Officers and specials have all a constable's powers, including arrest and stop and search, and the duties that go with them. PCSOs have a narrower, designated set focused on visible neighbourhood work; the College handbook says PCSOs are not under the general duty to act that falls on officers.
  3. Be honest about time. Officer training lasts two or three years alongside shift work. Special training is spread over many months around a day job, and most forces ask for at least 16 hours a month on average. PCSO hours depend on the contract.
  4. Check you meet the entry rules for each. Officers need a qualification or experience from Annex BA; specials have no academic requirement in the regulations; PCSO criteria are set by the force. Our eligibility check gives a quick read on the officer route.
  5. Check your history against the 2026 rules. If you have convictions or cautions, read how the automatic disqualification rule covers officers and specials before you apply, and ask the force vetting unit in confidence.
  6. Think about where you want to be in five years. If the aim is to become a regular officer, applying directly is one route; serving first as a special or PCSO is another that some forces accept in place of a level 3 qualification. Both mean passing the national stages.
  7. Weigh the money and pension honestly. Compare constable pay on the national scale with the PCSO grade your force advertises, and remember specials receive expenses and allowances only. The should I join the police calculator models the officer side.
  8. Check who is recruiting now. Forces open specials, PCSO and officer recruitment at different times. The force finder links each force's recruitment page.

What to ask and who to contact

Questions to put to the force recruitment team:

  • Which of the three roles are you recruiting for, and when is the next intake?
  • For specials: what is your minimum monthly or annual hours commitment, and what does initial training involve in practice (weekends, evenings, a block course)?
  • For specials: which expenses and allowances do you pay, and does the local policing body pay a Special Constables' Allowance?
  • For specials: I have a job or business. What do I need to declare under the business interests rules, and how long does approval take?
  • For PCSOs: what is the grade and salary, what are the shift patterns, and which powers do your PCSOs hold under their designation?
  • For PCSOs: do you run the level 4 PCSO learning programme, and is it an apprenticeship?
  • If I serve as a special or PCSO, how long before you will accept that service in place of a level 3 qualification for the PCDA or PCEP?
  • Is there a fitness test for specials or PCSOs, and what standard is it? (Background: PCSO and special constable fitness tests.)
  • How do you apply the 2026 automatic disqualification rule to special constable applicants?

Who else can help:

  • The force vetting unit, for confidential questions about convictions, cautions, debt or overseas residence.
  • Serving specials and PCSOs, through force open evenings or taster events where forces run them.
  • Your employer's HR team, to ask whether it takes part in employer supported policing (paid time off for volunteering).
  • The College of Policing recruitment team, through your force, about reasonable adjustments for the national sift and assessments.

Common myths about officers, PCSOs and specials

  • "Specials are not real police officers." In law they are constables with all the powers and privileges of a constable throughout England and Wales (Police Act 1996, section 30(2)), attested like regular officers. The differences are pay and membership of the force, not powers.
  • "A special can only use their powers in their own force area." Section 30(2) says throughout England and Wales. Where and how a force deploys its specials is a separate, local matter.
  • "PCSOs are just police officers without a warrant card." PCSOs are police staff with designated powers. A constable's powers of arrest and stop and search can never be designated to them.
  • "A PCSO can never hold anyone." If designated, a PCSO can require someone who refuses a name and address, or gives a false one, to wait up to 30 minutes for a constable, and can use reasonable force to stop them making off (Schedule 3C).
  • "PCSOs cannot use force." Section 38(8) gives a designated person the same entitlement as a constable to use reasonable force where the power includes it, and Schedule 3C allows force in detention situations.
  • "PCSO powers are listed in Schedule 4 of the Police Reform Act." That list was removed by the Policing and Crime Act 2017. Current powers come from section 38(6B), Schedule 3B and Schedule 3C.
  • "Specials get nothing at all." No salary, but expenses, locally approved allowances, sick pay for lost earnings after an injury on duty and, in some areas, a Special Constables' Allowance.
  • "You have to be a special or PCSO before you can join as an officer." No. The PCDA, PCEP, DHEP and pre-join degree routes are open to people with no previous policing service; special or PCSO service is one way of meeting the qualification requirement, not a requirement in itself.
  • "Being a special or PCSO guarantees you an officer job." You apply in the usual way and must pass the national stages, vetting, medical and fitness like any candidate.

What we could not verify

  • The exact legal route by which the 2026 automatic disqualification rule applies to special constables. The Home Office memorandum and Thames Valley Police say it does; the regulation text we read refers to appointment to a police force, and we found no 2026 amendment to the Special Constables Regulations 1965. We have not checked how every force applies it.
  • The probation period the Home Secretary has determined for special constables under regulation 12. Ask the force.
  • PCSO pensions in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police, which are not run by a "chief constable" in the sense used in the LGPS list. What we confirmed: Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Act 1972 lists "employment by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis" (the Civil Service pension arrangements), the Commissioner is not among the LGPS Schedule 2 employers, and the Met's recruitment microsite (run by Hays, read 1 October 2026) says new police staff join Civil Service alpha unless they choose partnership. What we could not confirm: a Met page on PCSO pensions specifically (met.police.uk returned an access error when we tried it), and which scheme City of London Police PCSOs join. Ask the force or its pension administrator.
  • PCSO pay figures, probation, hours and fitness standards. These are set locally and we have not checked every force.
  • Whether every force uses the College national sift and interview for specials and PCSOs. The College describes this as the national standard for specials and says its online assessments are used for PCSO recruitment, but recruitment is run locally.
  • Injury benefits for special constables beyond the regulation 5 sick pay. Separate special constable injury benefit regulations exist on legislation.gov.uk; we did not review their current text for this page.
  • Uniform detail for specials. The College describes specials as uniformed; we did not find a national rule on whether a special's uniform must differ from a regular officer's, and force practice may vary.
  • Some College PCSO handbook pages were last updated in 2022 and still refer to the old Schedule 4 numbering for the detention duty. Where they differ from the current Act, we have followed the Act.

If anything here is out of date, the legislation on legislation.gov.uk and the force's own recruitment page take priority.

Quick answers

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a PCSO and a police officer?

A police officer is attested as a constable and has all the powers of a constable throughout England and Wales (Police Act 1996, section 30). A PCSO is a member of police staff designated by the chief officer under section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002, with only the powers in that designation. The law excludes a constable's powers of arrest and stop and search from what a PCSO can be given.

Is a special constable a real police officer?

Yes, in law. Section 30(2) of the Police Act 1996 gives a special constable all the powers and privileges of a constable throughout England and Wales, and section 29 requires specials to be attested with the same declaration as regular officers. The difference is that specials are unpaid volunteers, not members of a police force.

Can a PCSO arrest you?

Not with a constable's powers: Schedule 3B of the Police Reform Act 2002 excludes any constable's power of arrest from a PCSO's designation. If designated, a PCSO can require you to wait up to 30 minutes for a constable if you refuse to give a name and address they lawfully asked for, or they reasonably suspect the one you gave is false. Like anyone, a PCSO also has the limited citizen's arrest power in PACE section 24A.

Can a special constable arrest you?

Yes. A special constable has all the powers and privileges of a constable throughout England and Wales under section 30(2) of the Police Act 1996, which includes a constable's powers of arrest. The College of Policing describes specials as warranted constables with all the powers of a regular officer.

Do special constables get paid?

No salary. Regulation 4 of the Special Constables Regulations 1965 says a special is not entitled to remuneration except as the regulations provide: out-of-pocket expenses, allowances the local policing body approves (including for lost earnings when required for duty) and, under regulation 5A, an optional Special Constables' Allowance at a locally set rate.

Do PCSOs get paid?

Yes. PCSOs are paid employees (police staff). The College of Policing PCSO handbook says recruitment and terms and conditions of police staff are a local matter for chief officers and police and crime commissioners, so there is no single national PCSO salary. Our PCSO pay guide explains how force grading works.

Should I be a PCSO or a police officer?

That depends on what you want. A PCSO is a paid, community-focused staff job with limited powers and no arrest powers of a constable. A police officer has full powers, more responsibility, a national pay scale and the police pension scheme, and must pass the four national recruitment stages. Check which roles your force is recruiting for and its entry rules.

Should I become a special constable before applying to be a police officer?

It is optional. The national recruitment site says specials can apply to become paid constables but still apply in the usual way. Annex BA lets a chief officer accept a period of special constable service, set by the force, in place of a level 3 qualification on the apprenticeship and entry programme routes, and the College says special constable learning is aligned with the first year of the apprenticeship.

Can a PCSO become a police officer?

Yes, by applying through the normal constable recruitment process. Annex BA lets a chief officer accept PCSO service, for a period the force specifies, as the qualification for the apprenticeship and entry programme routes. The College says the PCSO learning programme can be mapped across to the apprenticeship for a PCSO who moves into a constable role.

How many hours does a special constable have to do?

There is no national minimum in law. The College of Policing says there is no nationally mandated number of hours, that it is set by local force policy, and that as a guide most forces ask for an average of at least 16 hours a month. Check your own force's requirement.

Can a PCSO stop and search you?

Not under a constable's stop and search powers, which Schedule 3B excludes from PCSO designations. Schedule 3C does let a designated PCSO search a person for alcohol or tobacco they have refused to surrender, and search someone they have required to wait for a constable if they may be a danger or may have something to help them escape.

Do you need the same qualifications for all three roles?

No. Officers need a qualification or experience from the Home Office list (usually level 3 or a degree, depending on route). The Special Constables Regulations 1965 list no academic qualification but require English and numeracy assessments set by the chief officer. For PCSOs, the College says eligibility is set by each force.

Do special constables or PCSOs get a pension?

Police officers join the police pension scheme. PCSOs employed by a chief constable or police and crime commissioner can join the Local Government Pension Scheme, because both are listed LGPS employers. The Met is different: employment by the Commissioner is listed for the Civil Service pension arrangements, and the Met's recruitment microsite says police staff join Civil Service alpha or partnership. We found no pension scheme for special constable service: the 1965 regulations provide expenses, allowances and sick pay, not a pension.

Evidence

Sources and how we checked them

Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 1 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.

  1. Police Act 1996, section 27 (special constables), section 29 (attestation) and section 30 (jurisdiction), legislation.gov.uk — officers and specials both have all the powers of a constable throughout England and Wales; specials appointed by and under the direction of the chief officer; both attested (accessed 1 October 2026)
  2. Police Act 1996, Schedule 4 (form of declaration) — the attestation declaration made by regular officers and specials (accessed 1 October 2026)
  3. Special Constables Regulations 1965 (SI 1965/536), latest revised text — qualifications for appointment, fingerprints and samples, business interests, retirement, expenses and allowances, sick pay, Special Constables' Allowance (accessed 1 October 2026)
  4. Police Reform Act 2002, section 38 (police powers for civilian staff and volunteers) — how PCSOs are designated, the suitability and training test, reasonable force, entry, firearms (accessed 1 October 2026)
  5. Police Reform Act 2002, Schedule 3B (excluded powers) and Schedule 3C (additional powers of community support officers) — arrest and stop and search excluded; fixed penalties, names and addresses, alcohol and drugs, detention for up to 30 minutes; Schedule 3B at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/30/schedule/3B (accessed 1 October 2026)
  6. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 24A (arrest without warrant: other persons) — the limited arrest power anyone has, including a PCSO (accessed 1 October 2026)
  7. Police Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/527), regulations 10, 10A, 12 and 13, latest revised text — officer entry requirements; fingerprint condition not applied to serving specials; probation and discharge of probationers include special constables (accessed 1 October 2026)
  8. Police (Conduct and Vetting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/653) and its Explanatory Memorandum — automatic disqualification from 13 July 2026; memorandum para 5.8 says the instrument applies to police candidates and serving officers, together with special constables, and the Code remains for police staff (accessed 1 October 2026)
  9. Home Office Circular 002/2024, Annex BA: policing qualifications and experience — chief officers may accept special constable or PCSO service, for a period they specify, for the PCDA and PCEP routes (accessed 1 October 2026)
  10. Home Office: Special constables: expense and allowance rates (1 April 2022) — local policing bodies approve expenses and allowances; loss of earnings allowance; sick pay under regulation 5 (accessed 1 October 2026)
  11. Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/2356), Schedule 2 — police and crime commissioners and chief constables are listed scheme employers (Part 1, paras 6 and 7); the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is not listed (accessed 1 October 2026)
  12. Superannuation Act 1972, Schedule 1, latest revised text — lists 'employment by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis' among the employments the Civil Service pension arrangements can cover (accessed 1 October 2026)
  13. Metropolitan Police recruitment microsite (Hays): Benefits (read 1 October 2026) — Met police staff join the Civil Service pension arrangements: alpha by default, or partnership; not PCSO-specific (accessed 1 October 2026)
  14. Public Service Pensions Act 2013, section 10 — normal pension age of 60 for members of a police force (the 2015 police scheme) (accessed 1 October 2026)
  15. College of Policing: Special constables (overview) — warranted volunteers with all the powers of a regular officer; no national hours minimum, most forces ask for at least 16 a month; expenses; learning aligned with the PCDA (accessed 1 October 2026)
  16. College of Policing: Training for special constables — phases of the special constable learning programme and the College's estimated timescales (accessed 1 October 2026)
  17. College of Policing: Joining as a special constable — apply to the force; national sift and in-force interview; CVF level 1 (accessed 1 October 2026)
  18. College of Policing: Joining as a PCSO, and PCSO and special constable entry routes — eligibility set by each force; 12-month level 4 learning programme that can map across to the PCDA (also https://www.college.police.uk/support-forces/pcso-special-constable-entry) (accessed 1 October 2026)
  19. College of Policing: PCSO handbook, Legislation and powers — designation after the Policing and Crime Act 2017; PCSOs retain citizen's arrest powers under PACE s24A; equipment (accessed 1 October 2026)
  20. College of Policing: PCSO handbook, Uniform and appointments; Recruitment and employment; Training and development — PCSOs visibly distinct from officers; staff terms a local matter; 12-month programme and recognition of prior learning (accessed 1 October 2026)
  21. College of Policing: Reasonable adjustments and accommodations guide for online assessments candidates (updated 25 August 2026) — the College's online assessments are used for constable, special constable and PCSO recruitment (accessed 1 October 2026)
  22. Joining the Police (national recruitment site): Common questions — specials apply to become paid constables in the usual way; probation lengths; shifts (accessed 1 October 2026)
  23. Thames Valley Police: Automatic disqualification from appointment (July 2026, PDF) — one force stating it cannot appoint a police officer or special constable who falls within the automatic disqualification categories (accessed 1 October 2026)
Related Guides

On this topic elsewhere

Police entry requirements 2026 → Every legal requirement to become a constable, including the two 2026 changes. Special constable explained → Expenses, force training schedules and perks for specials. PCSO role and powers → What PCSOs do day to day in neighbourhood teams. How to become a PCSO → The general shape of PCSO recruitment. PCSO pay and salary → Local grading and the Police Staff Council award. PCSO, specials and staff vetting → How vetting for each role compares with officer vetting. All police entry routes → PCDA, PCEP, DHEP, pre-join degree and more.
Joining the police

More in this guide series

Start here Candidates hub Everything for police applicants: eligibility, the application, the assessment centre, interviews, fitness and vetting. Start here Entry requirements Every legal and national requirement to become a constable, including the two 2026 rule changes. Eligibility Police age limit Apply at 17, appointed at 18, no upper limit in the regulations; what 57 and 60 really mean. Eligibility Qualifications needed Level 3 or accepted experience for PCDA and PCEP, a degree for DHEP, and the GCSE rules. Eligibility Nationality and residency UK, EEA or indefinite leave; settled status; the three-year residency rule and its exceptions. Eligibility Tattoos and appearance The national tattoo test, force policies and what to do if unsure. Eligibility Medical conditions Asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, hearing and BMI: the Home Office standards and how the medical works. Eligibility Mental health and neurodiversity What the standards say, the Equality Act, and reasonable adjustments in the assessments. Application Application form guide The national application form, history and declarations, and applying to several forces. Application Rejected and reapplying Stage by stage: appeals, resit limits and when you can apply again. Online assessment After the OAC How results arrive, what the feedback report shows, and the force interview and checks that follow a pass. Online assessment Tech and adjustments Devices, browsers, the no-second-device rule, what to do if tech fails, and the OAC extra time table. Framework CVF explained The three values, six competencies, levels 1 to 3, what changed from 2016 and which exercise assesses what. Online assessment OAC prep plan How long to prepare for the online assessment centre, with day-by-day plans built on the current College format. Routes Entry routes compared PCDA, PCEP, DHEP, degree holder, detective, rejoiner, specials, PCSOs and cadets side by side. Routes PCDA explained Entry requirements, pay from day one, the three years, English and maths, and who is recruiting. Routes DHEP explained Who qualifies, the two-year graduate diploma, detective DHEP, Police Now and pay. Routes Rejoining the police Regulation 10B, no five-year limit, 6 or 12 months' probation, exams and pension questions. Vetting Vetting levels What each police vetting level is for, what it checks and how long it lasts. Vetting Vetting appeals Your right to written reasons, the three grounds and how to write an appeal. Vetting Criminal records The 2026 automatic disqualification rules and how other offences are judged. Vetting Other roles Where staff, special and volunteer vetting differs from officer vetting. Vetting Mental health and vetting Why vetting is not a medical, and what goes to occupational health. Guide Failed vetting: family Why relatives or associates lead to refusal, what you are told, appeals and reapplying. Guide Driving licence When forces need a licence, provisional, automatic and foreign licences, and how points are vetted. Guide Police medical What the medical checks, when it happens, BMI and height, GP records, drug tests and failing. Guide Briefing exercise practice Three original 12-question briefing scenarios with worked answer outlines. Guide Written exercise practice Four original written tasks with four items each and planning outlines. Guide CVF: courage What the courage value means, how to choose your own example and an illustrative STAR structure. Guide CVF: respect and empathy Why fair is not identical, where it is assessed, with an illustrative STAR structure. Guide CVF: public service The 2024 meaning of public service, where it is assessed and an illustrative STAR structure. Guide CVF: we take ownership Level 1 behaviours, level 1 versus 2, and how to own a mistake in a STAR answer. Guide CVF: innovative and open-minded Level 1 means learning, suggesting, reflecting and adapting, with an illustrative STAR structure. Guide CVF: other four competencies Where emotionally aware, collaborate, support and inspire, and analyse critically are assessed. Guide Final interview by force The law now requires a force interview after the OAC; what all 43 forces' own pages say about it, with links. Entry routes Assessment by route PCDA, DHEP, PCEP, detective, transferee, rejoiner, specials and PCSO: what the law makes identical and what can differ.
Also on PolicePay

Free tools for applicants

Tool OAC readiness check Check how ready you are for the online assessment centre. Tool Mock interview Practise police interview questions with feedback. Tool Force finder Compare forces on pay, allowances and region. Tool Timeline planner Plan the stages from application to start date. Tool Vetting checker See where you are in the vetting process.

Disclaimer

PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with the College of Policing, the Home Office or any police force, and it does not recruit, vet or assess applicants. Recruitment standards, assessment formats and vetting decisions are set by the College of Policing and each force and change from time to time: check the force you are applying to before relying on anything here. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 1 October 2026.