Special Constables

How to Become a
Special Constable

Special constables are volunteer police officers with the same powers as regulars. This guide walks through every stage of getting in, from eligibility to your first tutored patrol, using the College of Policing's October 2026 national standard and the recruitment pages of 14 forces, with the places they differ.

Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 18 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated

Short answer: how do you become a special constable?

Apply to the force you want to volunteer with. Under the College of Policing's national standard (updated 5 October 2026), a progressed application leads to the online National Sift (a situational judgement test and a behavioural styles questionnaire) and an in-force panel interview of up to 60 minutes, both at CVF level 1. Then come the fitness test (level 5.4 in the forces we checked that state it), a medical, vetting, references and biometrics, and a place on a training course. You must be 18 to be appointed, and most forces ask for at least 16 hours a month. Forces differ on almost every detail, so read your force's own pages.

The process at a glance

The College of Policing sets out the core of the process and calls it the national standard for special constable recruitment: apply to the force, the national sift, then an in-force interview. Forces wrap their own checks around it. A typical journey looks like this:

Stage 1
Check you are eligible

Age, nationality and residency, health, character, and whether your job is compatible. Many forces run a self-check or eligibility screen first.
Stage 2
Apply to the force

Specials are recruited by each force, not nationally. Some forces add an initial sift of your application or a compulsory briefing or familiarisation event.
Stage 3
National Sift

Online: a situational judgement test and a behavioural styles questionnaire, at CVF level 1. Part of the College of Policing's national standard since October 2026.
Stage 4
In-force interview

A panel interview of up to 60 minutes, with questions based on the Competency and Values Framework. Online in some forces, face to face in others.
Stage 5
Fitness test

In the forces we checked that state a level, the 15m shuttle run to level 5.4. West Yorkshire tests before the interview; most test afterwards.
Stage 6
Medical and drug test

A health questionnaire and occupational health medical: eyesight, colour vision, lung function and hearing, often with BMI and a drug test.
Stage 7
Vetting, references and biometrics

Police vetting on you and the people close to you, references (three to five years in the forces we checked) and fingerprints and DNA.
Stage 8
Offer and training

A place on the next training intake, attestation as a constable, then tutored patrols while you build your portfolio.

The guides in this series go deeper on each part:

Is being a special right for you?

The College of Policing describes the Special Constabulary as a force of warranted, uniformed volunteer police officers. Once trained and attested, specials hold the same powers as regular constables. That makes it very different from other policing volunteer roles, and from the paid PCSO role, which has no warrant.

It is unpaid. Expenses are reimbursed, but there is no salary.
It is a real commitment. A training course of several months, then usually at least 16 hours a month, often evenings and weekends.
It is operational. You will deal with incidents, arrests and people in crisis.
It can lead somewhere. Specials service can count towards regular entry. See special to regular.

For the role itself, including powers, perks and the informal rank structure, see special constable explained. To weigh it against other routes, see police officer vs PCSO vs special constable.

Eligibility: who can apply

The legal baseline is in regulation 1 of the Special Constables Regulations 1965: you must be 18 before appointment, meet nationality and leave to remain conditions, be of good character and in good health, pass any English and numeracy assessments the chief officer sets, and give a drug test sample when required. Forces then add their own rules.

Special constable eligibility: national rules and force differences (read 18 October 2026)
Requirement	What the rules say	Where forces differ
Age	You must be 18 before appointment (Special Constables Regulations 1965, reg 1). No upper limit in the regulations; joiningthepolice.co.uk says there is none.	Most forces we checked let you apply at 17. West Yorkshire, Hampshire, Sussex, Avon and Somerset and Merseyside say 18 when you apply. The Met says its upper limit is typically 57.
Nationality	British citizen, or resident in the UK free of restrictions (joiningthepolice.co.uk; reg 1 sets nationality and leave to remain conditions).	Forces word this slightly differently; check the advert.
Residency	Three years' continuous UK residence immediately before applying, for vetting. A gap year of about 12 months or less does not break it (joiningthepolice.co.uk).	West Midlands says less than 12 months spent abroad. Some forces ask for references covering five years.
Character and health	Good character and good health (reg 1).	Forces publish their own guidance on convictions, cautions, debts and tattoos.
English and maths	The chief officer may set English and numeracy assessments (reg 1).	Met: level 2 English. Lancashire: GCSE grade C or 4 English. Sussex: GCSE English, a degree or a level 2 skills test. Greater Manchester: a test if you lack qualifications. Kent, Devon and Cornwall, West Yorkshire and Avon and Somerset: no qualifications needed.
Driving licence	No national requirement; joiningthepolice.co.uk says some forces require one.	Devon and Cornwall, Sussex, Avon and Somerset and Police Scotland say no licence is needed. Sussex bars applicants with six or more penalty points.
Where you live	No national rule.	Thames Valley: within 20 crow miles of a police station. Avon and Somerset: in the force area or within 15 miles or 30 minutes of a station.

The College of Policing's guidance says the factors forces consider include nationality, age, fitness, financial status, and criminal convictions of the applicant and of family or close associates. Our guides to the police age limit, nationality and residency and tattoos and appearance cover these in more depth, mostly for regular officers.

On offending, forces set out their own lines. Greater Manchester says no convictions for theft, dishonesty, violence or public order offences. West Midlands says a drink-driving conviction in the last 10 years is likely to mean refusal. Sussex says six or more penalty points make you ineligible. These are each force's rules, not national ones, so read your force's eligibility page.

Tattoos and debts

Forces set their own rules. The Met bans tattoos on the face and the front or sides of the neck above the collar; Greater Manchester says no visible tattoos on the hands, face or neck; Kent and Lancashire assess them from photos. Greater Manchester also says no outstanding county court judgments. If you are unsure, ask the force before you apply.

Jobs that are incompatible with being a special

Because specials hold police powers, some jobs create a conflict of interest. joiningthepolice.co.uk lists jobs that bar you, including:

police community support officer
members of the armed forces
traffic wardens and civil enforcement officers
magistrates
Crown Prosecution Service staff
immigration officers

Forces publish their own, often longer, lists. Sussex includes taxi and private hire drivers; Thames Valley includes bar work and door staff; Merseyside includes holders of Security Industry Authority badges; Devon and Cornwall includes councillors and court ushers. Greater Manchester also has a list of jobs its chief constable will consider case by case, such as reservists and private security. Check your force's list before you apply, and tell the force about any second job or business interest.

Choosing which force to volunteer with

You volunteer with one force, and you will travel to its stations for duties and to its training site for the course. The practical differences between forces are bigger than most applicants expect:

Distance rules. Thames Valley asks you to live within 20 crow miles of a police station, and Avon and Somerset within the force area or 15 miles or 30 minutes of a station.
Training format. The Met offers 23 days as weekend courses or 23 consecutive weekdays; Kent offers alternate weekends or a five-week weekday course; Devon and Cornwall spreads four modules over 36 weeks. Pick a format you can actually attend.
Hours. 16 hours a month in most forces, 18 at Thames Valley.
Minimum term. Avon and Somerset asks for at least two years.
Perks. Travel benefits vary a lot: free TfL travel at the Met after 200 hours a year, duty allowances and rail travel at British Transport Police.
Local roles. Essex offers a Community Special Constable role, after directed patrol status, patrolling your own parish or town.
Is it open? Avon and Somerset and Lancashire were closed to specials applications when we checked. Many forces let you register interest.

If you hope to become a regular later, it also makes sense to look at that force's regular recruitment pages now, because the way it treats specials service varies. Our police jobs hub lists every force with its official recruitment link.

The stages, force by force

Here is how the forces whose specials pages we read on 18 October 2026 describe the key stages. "Not stated" means the page did not say, not that the stage does not exist.

Special constable recruitment by force (read 18 October 2026)
Force	National Sift	Interview	Fitness	Timescale
Metropolitan Police force page	Not named	An online competency and value-based question interview (the force calls this stage the assessment centre)	15m shuttle run to level 5.4, with the medical	Vetting and references typically around 2 months
Greater Manchester Police force page	Named	About 45 minutes, assessing values against the CVF	5.4 bleep test, in the pre-employment checks	Normally around 12 weeks
Thames Valley Police force page	Named	Competency-based interview by MS Teams, plus a dictation test on the day of the fitness test	Level 5.4	Up to six months
Kent Police force page	Named	A virtual interview, then a face-to-face senior interview at Kent Police College, Maidstone, based on the CVF	Level 5.4, up to three attempts	About four to seven months
Devon and Cornwall Police force page	Named	Panel interview of about 40 minutes at headquarters in Exeter, based on the CVF, on the same day as the fitness test	15m multi-stage fitness test at level 5.4	Several months; vetting around 2 months
West Yorkshire Police force page	Named	In-force panel interview based on the CVF	Level 5.4, to be passed before the interview	Not stated
Hampshire and Isle of Wight force page	Named	Assessment centre with a competency and values based interview and the fitness test	Job-related fitness test (level not stated)	Not stated
Sussex Police force page	Named	In-force interview at headquarters in Lewes	Fitness test in pre-employment checks (level not stated on the page)	Not stated
Avon and Somerset force page	Named	Face-to-face competency-based interview	4 shuttles at level 5 (5.4)	About five months
Essex Police force page	Named	Competency-based interview, online or in person	Fitness test in pre-employment checks	Up to six months, or longer
Lancashire Constabulary force page	Named	Face to face at police headquarters	Level 5.4	Not stated
Merseyside Police force page	Named	In-force interview and assessment on values and behaviours	Fitness test in pre-employment checks	Not stated
West Midlands Police force page	Not named	Not stated	Level 5.4	Not stated
British Transport Police force page	Not named	Assessment centre: a competency-based interview with a presentation, up to an hour, based on the CVF	Level 5.4	Not stated

Patterns worth knowing: Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside run an initial or paper sift before the National Sift; Avon and Somerset makes a familiarisation event compulsory, and Essex a briefing; Kent has two interviews (a virtual one, then a face-to-face senior interview); and West Yorkshire puts the fitness test before the interview. Some pages were closed to applications or look out of date, which the force table notes in the linked page.

Stage 1 and 2: eligibility check and application

Most forces start with an eligibility screen, sometimes a self-assessment questionnaire (Thames Valley) or an eligibility review with tattoo photos (Kent, Lancashire). The application itself is usually online. Lancashire says its specials application now takes about 10 minutes and no longer asks competency-based questions; the Met runs a Police National Computer check at application.

Be complete and honest. Declarations are checked again at vetting, and an omission can end an application.
Check training dates before you apply. Forces recruit to intakes; you may need to commit to a specific course.
Choose the right force. You can only volunteer with one force at a time, so pick one you can reach easily for duties.

Our police application form guide is written for regular officers, but the advice on declarations and history applies.

Stage 4: the in-force interview

The College says the interview is with a panel from the force, uses questions based on the Competency and Values Framework, lasts up to 60 minutes and is assessed at level 1. It describes past-focused, future-focused and scenario-based questions, and says the panel may interrupt to probe. Forces run it differently: online at the Met and Thames Valley (by MS Teams), face to face at Devon and Cornwall, Sussex, Avon and Somerset and Lancashire, either at Essex, and in two rounds at Kent. Greater Manchester says about 45 minutes, Devon and Cornwall about 40.

Expect four kinds of question:

motivation: why a special, why this force;
commitment: how you will fit the hours and training around your life;
values and competencies: real examples of courage, respect and empathy, public service, taking ownership;
scenarios: what you would do in a situation, judged on integrity and common sense, not law.

Our special constable interview guide has 21 practice questions and six original example answers.

Free practice

Practise one interview answer out loud, free

The mock interview's questions are written for constable interviews, but they use the same CVF values a specials panel assesses. Answer one and get a scored result in about a minute. No account.

You will get a question like thisIn-person interview mode

“Tell us about a time you helped someone who was vulnerable.”

Answer a question now, free

Free result: a score out of 10 and a pass or refer verdict.
Plus: a short summary of what you said and your main gap.
You need: a microphone. Up to 5 free scored answers a day.

Independent practice, not the real assessment, and not affiliated with any police force or the College of Policing. Your recording is used to score the answer and is not kept (privacy policy). The full STAR critique and a model answer are in the optional paid pass.

Stage 5: the fitness test

The College of Policing leaves it to each force whether to fitness test specials. In practice, every force we checked that states a standard uses the 15m multi-stage shuttle run to level 5.4, the same as regular recruits. joiningthepolice.co.uk lists a job-related fitness test for specials.

Level 5.4 stated: Met, Greater Manchester, Thames Valley, Kent, Devon and Cornwall, West Yorkshire, Lancashire, West Midlands, British Transport Police, and Avon and Somerset (which describes it as 4 shuttles at level 5).
Attempts: Kent allows up to three.
Timing: West Yorkshire wants it passed before interview; Devon and Cornwall holds it on the same day as the interview; most others put it with pre-employment checks.
After joining: West Yorkshire says specials take an annual fitness test after training.

See our PCSO and special constable fitness test guide and the bleep test training plan.

Stage 6: the medical and drug test

joiningthepolice.co.uk says specials complete a medical questionnaire and a force occupational health medical covering eyesight, colour vision, lung function and hearing. Forces add their own elements:

BMI: Kent asks for 18 to 30; Devon and Cornwall says a BMI outside 18 to 30 can still proceed if occupational health clears it; Sussex assesses body composition if BMI is over 35.
Drug tests: the Met, Devon and Cornwall, West Yorkshire, Sussex and Lancashire mention a substance misuse or drugs test. The regulations allow forces to require a sample.
Blood pressure, eyesight and hearing: listed by the Met.

Our police medical guide and medical conditions guide explain the officer standards, which many forces use as a reference for specials.

Stage 7: vetting, references and biometrics

Specials hold police powers and access police information, so they go through police vetting. The Home Office's explanatory memorandum to the July 2026 vetting regulations (SI 2026/653) says that instrument applies to police candidates and serving officers, together with special constables, while the Vetting Code of Practice remains in place for police staff.

Who is checked: you, and people close to you. The College lists convictions of family or close associates among the factors forces consider.
Finances: Kent mentions financial checks; Greater Manchester says no outstanding county court judgments.
References: three years at Kent, five years at Devon and Cornwall and Sussex.
Biometrics: fingerprints and DNA at the Met, Greater Manchester, Kent, West Yorkshire, Sussex and Lancashire.
Time: the Met and Devon and Cornwall both say vetting typically takes around two months.

Our guide to vetting for PCSOs, specials and staff explains where specials follow officer rules, and criminal records and vetting covers convictions and cautions.

How long the whole process takes

Forces' own estimates for getting from application to a training course, as stated on their pages:

Metropolitan Police: Vetting and references typically around 2 months
Greater Manchester Police: Normally around 12 weeks
Thames Valley Police: Up to six months
Kent Police: About four to seven months
Devon and Cornwall Police: Several months; vetting around 2 months
Avon and Somerset: About five months
Essex Police: Up to six months, or longer

Then add the training course itself, usually several months of weekends. Recruitment windows open and close, and several forces were not recruiting specials when we checked, so register interest if your force is closed.

Reasonable adjustments

The College of Policing's reasonable adjustments policy (first published 5 August 2026) covers special constabulary recruitment. Points that matter to specials applicants:

Ask your force's recruitment team first. The policy gives the College's recruitment inbox as the next step if you need it.
Requests may be reviewed by the College or by the force.
Because both National Sift exercises are untimed, extra time is not offered for the sift. Other adjustments are available.
Screening tools on their own (the policy names examples such as Lucid and QuickScan) are not accepted as evidence; diagnostic reports are, including those written before you were 16.

Raise any need as early as you can, ideally when you apply, so it is in place before the sift invitation arrives. Our guide to mental health, neurodiversity and police recruitment covers the wider rules.

An eight-week preparation plan

This is PolicePay's suggested plan, not any force's requirement. Start it when you apply, because the sift invitation can arrive quickly and the seven-day window is short.

Week 1: read your force's specials pages end to end: eligibility, incompatible jobs, hours, training dates. Find your current shuttle run level on a measured course.
Week 2: read the CVF values and level 1 competencies. Try a round of the free SJT practice and read every explanation.
Week 3: try the BSQ practice so the format is familiar, then stop: the questionnaire should reflect how you really behave.
Week 4: list real examples from work, study, volunteering or home for each value and three competencies. Write STAR notes, not scripts.
Week 5: write your motivation answer and your plan for fitting in the hours. Check both against your real diary and talk them through at home.
Week 6: practise answers out loud with someone who asks follow-up questions, or use the mock interview.
Week 7: gather details for vetting and references: addresses, employers and dates for the period your force asks for.
Week 8: keep fitness training going with the bleep test plan, and re-read your examples before the interview.

Training: what the course looks like

The national curriculum is the College's Special Constable Learning Programme, which the College says is aligned with the first year of the police constable degree apprenticeship. Forces deliver it in very different formats:

Initial training format by force (read 18 October 2026)
Force	Initial training as described
Metropolitan Police	23 days, non-residential: 13 weeks of Saturday or Sunday courses, or 23 consecutive weekdays
Greater Manchester Police	10 to 12 weekends over about 3 months, plus personal safety training over 8 consecutive weekdays
Thames Valley Police	12 weekends over six months, on alternate weekends
Kent Police	Around six to seven months on alternate weekends, or a five-week weekday course
Devon and Cornwall Police	Four modules over 36 weeks, mixing distance learning and weekends
West Yorkshire Police	18 weeks of alternate weekends and some weekday evenings
Hampshire and Isle of Wight	Several months of weekend and evening classes at Hamble, in two phases
Sussex Police	15 alternate weekends and 13 evenings
Avon and Somerset	Self-study, then 15 weekends on alternate weekends
Essex Police	Around 27 days on weekends and evenings
Lancashire Constabulary	11 full weekends over about four months, plus e-learning
Merseyside Police	13 to 14 weekends across about six months
West Midlands Police	10 to 15 weeks, mainly weekends (job advert)
British Transport Police	Usually 10 weekends, every other weekend

joiningthepolice.co.uk says training is followed by being sworn in before a magistrate. The Met attests new specials on the first day of training at Hendon, so the order differs by force. Expect strict attendance rules: Sussex says there is no flexibility for missing days.

After training: patrol status and qualification

Passing the course is the start, not the end. The College's guidance describes these stages of the learning programme:

Special Constable Learning Programme stages (College of Policing, first published 29 October 2020)
Stage	What it involves	College estimate
Phase one learning	Initial learning plus personal safety training, leading to accompanied patrol status	Set by the force's course
Accompanied patrol status	Patrolling with a tutor or experienced officer while you build an operational competence portfolio	Part of the journey to directed patrol
Directed patrol status	Portfolio assessed by a tutor; a status the College says is unique to the Special Constabulary	18 to 24 months on average
Phase two learning	Any of five areas: response, communities, roads, information and intelligence, investigations	About 4 to 6 months after directed patrol for one area; about two years for all five
Qualified special constable	Completion of phase two	Varies

Forces use different names and timings. Kent and Essex use directed patrol status, and Kent says it usually takes two to three years; the Met and Hampshire refer to independent patrol status; Avon and Somerset says working single-crewed takes three to five years; Lancashire says independent officer status is achievable within 12 months; Greater Manchester says confirmed in rank after about 12 months. Ask your force what its stages are and how long they usually take.

The hours commitment

The College says there is no nationally mandated amount, but most forces require an average of at least 16 hours a month. Of the forces we checked, Thames Valley asks for 18 hours a month, West Midlands suggests two shifts a month, the Met and Devon and Cornwall express it as 200 hours a year, and Avon and Somerset also asks for a two-year commitment. Essex says training does not count towards its 16 hours.

Full force-by-force detail, and how to make it work round a job, in how many hours do special constables do?

Telling your employer, and employer supported policing

Most specials have a paid job, so your employer matters. Three things to sort out before you apply:

Compatibility. Check your job against the force's incompatible occupations list. Some jobs, such as private security or licensed premises work, are barred or need the chief constable's agreement in some forces.
Time. The training course and duties will take weekends and evenings. If you work shifts, ask how rotas can fit together.
Employer supported policing. The College of Policing describes schemes where employers agree with the force to give staff paid time off to volunteer as specials. Kent lists employer supported policing as one of its entry routes. Ask your HR team whether your employer takes part.

Expenses and benefits

Specials are not paid. Regulation 4 of the Special Constables Regulations 1965 allows reasonable out-of-pocket expenses to be reimbursed, or allowances paid, as approved by the local policing body. The Home Office's 2022 guidance covers subsistence, mileage where a regular would receive it, loss of earnings and other costs, with amounts set locally.

Met: free TfL travel on and off duty and a 50% rebate on the Greater London Authority part of council tax, after 200 hours a year.
Thames Valley: mileage and public transport (not taxis), subsistence from £7.23 to £24.15, boots up to £68 every two years.
Kent: travel expenses, boots up to £50, sports association membership and a Blue Light Card.
West Yorkshire: meal and mileage expenses.

Uniform and training are provided. More on perks in special constable explained.

Progression within the Special Constabulary

Many forces have a specials rank structure. Hampshire and Isle of Wight's specials pages describe promotion from Special Sergeant up to Special Superintendent. These ranks organise and lead specials; our special constable explained guide covers how specials ranks differ from regular ranks.

Specials can also build experience in particular areas. The College's phase two learning covers response, communities, roads, information and intelligence, and investigations. Ask your force which teams specials can join once qualified.

From special to regular officer

Many people join the specials to try policing before applying for a paid role. Three facts shape that route:

You still sit the regular stages. Since 17 March 2026 every constable candidate except a transferee must pass the national sift, the online assessment process and an in-person force interview (Police Regulations 2003, reg 10(1)(eb)).
Service can replace level 3. Home Office Annex BA lets a chief officer accept special constable service, for a period the chief officer specifies, instead of a level 3 qualification for the PCDA and PCEP.
Learning counts. The College says a special who becomes a regular will have their learning and experience taken into account.

Force approaches vary: the Met says specials with 200 hours of operational service and independent patrol status can apply to become a new constable; Kent says it has routes that avoid the full constable training programme; Lancashire says being a special is not a direct route to a paid role. The Home Office recorded 150 officer joiners (full-time equivalent) in 2025/26 who had been special constables. Full detail in special constable to regular officer.

If you are unsuccessful

Sift: the College's guidance allows a resit from three months after your attempt, up to twice in 12 months. Lancashire allows one retake, not within three months.
Whole application: the Met says you cannot reapply within six months of an unsuccessful application. Other forces set their own gaps.
Feedback: the National Sift gives a personalised feedback report. Ask the force for interview feedback.
Vetting: a vetting refusal follows its own process. See appealing a vetting decision.

Our guide to rejected applications and reapplying covers the general approach.

The numbers: a shrinking Special Constabulary

The Home Office's police workforce statistics put the Special Constabulary at 5,196 (headcount) in the 43 forces of England and Wales at 31 March 2026, down from 5,520 a year earlier. The release says joiners rose by 92 (9.4%) and leavers fell to 1,321, from 1,445. Numbers remain far below the March 2012 peak of 20,343.

The government's January 2026 policing white paper says its ambition is to stabilise and grow special constable numbers, including by improving and streamlining the recruitment process. That is policy direction, not a change to the rules, but it is the background to the College's new national standard.

Force profiles: what each force says

The detail behind the tables above, force by force, as each force's own specials pages described it on 18 October 2026. Follow the link to check the current version before you rely on it.

Metropolitan Police

Online tests: No sift named: application and a Police National Computer check, then an online interview
Interview: An online competency and value-based question interview (the force calls this stage the assessment centre)
Fitness: 15m shuttle run to level 5.4, with the medical
Hours: A minimum of 200 hours a year, equal to 16 hours a month
Training: 23 days, non-residential: 13 weeks of Saturday or Sunday courses, or 23 consecutive weekdays
Timescale: Vetting and references typically around 2 months
Becoming a regular: Specials who have completed 200 hours of operational service and gained independent patrol status can apply to become a new police constable

Metropolitan Police specials page

Greater Manchester Police

Online tests: An initial sift, then the online National Sift (SJT and BSQ)
Interview: About 45 minutes, assessing values against the CVF
Fitness: 5.4 bleep test, in the pre-employment checks
Hours: A minimum of 16 hours a month
Training: 10 to 12 weekends over about 3 months, plus personal safety training over 8 consecutive weekdays
Timescale: Normally around 12 weeks
Becoming a regular: Not stated on the specials pages we read
Note: The intake table on the page was still headed 24/25 when checked.

Greater Manchester Police specials page

Thames Valley Police

Online tests: Online National Sift assessment
Interview: Competency-based interview by MS Teams, plus a dictation test on the day of the fitness test
Fitness: Level 5.4
Hours: At least 18 hours a month
Training: 12 weekends over six months, on alternate weekends
Timescale: Up to six months
Becoming a regular: Not stated on the specials pages we read

Thames Valley Police specials page

Kent Police

Online tests: National Sift (SJT and BSQ)
Interview: A virtual interview, then a face-to-face senior interview at Kent Police College, Maidstone, based on the CVF
Fitness: Level 5.4, up to three attempts
Hours: A minimum of 16 hours each month
Training: Around six to seven months on alternate weekends, or a five-week weekday course
Timescale: About four to seven months
Becoming a regular: Says there are routes to become a regular paid constable without completing the full police constable training programme

Kent Police specials page

Devon and Cornwall Police

Online tests: BSQ first, which must be passed, then the SJT
Interview: Panel interview of about 40 minutes at headquarters in Exeter, based on the CVF, on the same day as the fitness test
Fitness: 15m multi-stage fitness test at level 5.4
Hours: 16 hours a month on average, equal to 200 hours a year
Training: Four modules over 36 weeks, mixing distance learning and weekends
Timescale: Several months; vetting around 2 months
Becoming a regular: Not stated on the specials pages we read
Note: A specials application is paused after the National Sift if you also have a regular constable application running.

Devon and Cornwall Police specials page

West Yorkshire Police

Online tests: National Sift (SJT and BSQ)
Interview: In-force panel interview based on the CVF
Fitness: Level 5.4, to be passed before the interview
Hours: A minimum of 16 hours a month, such as two eight-hour shifts
Training: 18 weeks of alternate weekends and some weekday evenings
Timescale: Not stated
Becoming a regular: Not stated on the specials pages we read

West Yorkshire Police specials page

Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Online tests: National Sift (SJT and BSQ)
Interview: Assessment centre with a competency and values based interview and the fitness test
Fitness: Job-related fitness test (level not stated)
Hours: A minimum of 16 hours
Training: Several months of weekend and evening classes at Hamble, in two phases
Timescale: Not stated
Becoming a regular: Not stated on the specials pages we read

Hampshire and Isle of Wight specials page

Sussex Police

Online tests: Online assessments: BSQ and SJT
Interview: In-force interview at headquarters in Lewes
Fitness: Fitness test in pre-employment checks (level not stated on the page)
Hours: At least 16 hours a month
Training: 15 alternate weekends and 13 evenings
Timescale: Not stated
Becoming a regular: Not stated on the specials pages we read

Sussex Police specials page

Avon and Somerset

Online tests: Compulsory familiarisation event, then the National Sift (SJT and BSQ)
Interview: Face-to-face competency-based interview
Fitness: 4 shuttles at level 5 (5.4)
Hours: A minimum average of 16 duty hours a month, and a commitment of at least two years
Training: Self-study, then 15 weekends on alternate weekends
Timescale: About five months
Becoming a regular: Not stated on the specials pages we read
Note: Recruitment was closed when checked.

Avon and Somerset specials page

Essex Police

Online tests: National Sift, after the application
Interview: Competency-based interview, online or in person
Fitness: Fitness test in pre-employment checks
Hours: At least 16 hours a month on duty, not counting training
Training: Around 27 days on weekends and evenings
Timescale: Up to six months, or longer
Becoming a regular: Not stated on the specials pages we read

Essex Police specials page

Lancashire Constabulary

Online tests: Short application and paper sift, then the National Sift (SJT and BSQ)
Interview: Face to face at police headquarters
Fitness: Level 5.4
Hours: 16 hours a month
Training: 11 full weekends over about four months, plus e-learning
Timescale: Not stated
Becoming a regular: Says being a special is not a direct route to becoming a paid police officer
Note: Applications were closed when checked.

Lancashire Constabulary specials page

Merseyside Police

Online tests: Initial sift, then the College of Policing National Sift
Interview: In-force interview and assessment on values and behaviours
Fitness: Fitness test in pre-employment checks
Hours: A minimum of 16 hours a month
Training: 13 to 14 weekends across about six months
Timescale: Not stated
Becoming a regular: Not stated on the specials pages we read

Merseyside Police specials page

West Midlands Police

Online tests: No specials-specific stages published
Interview: Not stated
Fitness: Level 5.4
Hours: No hard minimum; suggests two shifts a month
Training: 10 to 15 weeks, mainly weekends (job advert)
Timescale: Not stated
Becoming a regular: Not stated on the specials pages we read

West Midlands Police specials page

British Transport Police

Online tests: Its own process: an SJT within the application, then online maths and English and a video assessment (its pack covers constables, PCSOs and specials together)
Interview: Assessment centre: a competency-based interview with a presentation, up to an hour, based on the CVF
Fitness: Level 5.4
Hours: At least 16 hours a month
Training: Usually 10 weekends, every other weekend
Timescale: Not stated
Becoming a regular: Not stated on the specials pages we read
Note: Read from an advert that closed on 3 September 2026 and its recruitment pack.

British Transport Police specials page

Scotland and British Transport Police

Police Scotland runs its own specials recruitment with the Police Scotland Entrance Test rather than the National Sift, a level 5.4 fitness test and a minimum of 96 hours a year. The College of Policing's standard covers England and Wales.
British Transport Police recruits specials across Great Britain through its own process: an SJT in the application, online maths and English, a video assessment and an assessment centre with an interview and presentation. It asks for at least 16 hours a month and usually trains over 10 weekends.

If the specials are not the right fit

The commitment, the powers and the unpaid status put some people off, and that is a sensible thing to decide before you apply. Other ways into policing:

Police support volunteer. Volunteer roles without police powers. The Home Office counted 6,035 police support volunteers at 31 March 2026. Ask your force what roles it has.
PCSO. A paid, uniformed neighbourhood role without a warrant. See how to become a PCSO.
Regular constable. If you meet the entry requirements and want a paid warranted role now, apply directly. See police entry routes.
Police staff. Call handling, custody, investigation and more. See the police staff hub.

Questions to ask the recruitment team

Which stages will I go through, in what order, and do you use the National Sift?
Is the interview online or face to face, and how long is it?
What is the next training intake, and what happens if I miss a session?
How do you measure the hours commitment, and does training count?
Is my job, or a second job, a problem? (Ask before you apply if unsure.)
What expenses do you pay, and how do I claim them?
How does this force treat specials service if I later apply to be a regular?

Your checklist before applying

Am I 18, or will I be by appointment? Does my force let me apply at 17?
Have I lived in the UK for the last three years?
Is my job, or any second job, on the force's incompatible list?
Can I make the next training intake's dates, and keep up the force's monthly hours?
Have I told my employer and family?
Can I pass the 15m shuttle run to level 5.4 now?
Have I practised the SJT format and prepared interview examples?
Do I have anything to declare for vetting, and do I understand how it will be assessed?

Myths about becoming a special

"Specials don't have to pass any tests." The College's national standard includes the online National Sift and a CVF-based interview, and forces add fitness, medical and vetting.

"The fitness test is easier for specials." Every force we checked that states a level uses 5.4 on the 15m shuttle run, the same as regular recruits.

"Being a special gets you straight in as a regular." The law requires the full regular stages for every constable candidate except transferees. Specials service can count instead of level 3 and towards training.

"Sixteen hours a month is the law." The College says there is no nationally mandated amount. It is the most common force requirement.

"You need a driving licence." Several forces, including Devon and Cornwall, Sussex and Avon and Somerset, say you do not. Some forces do require one.

"You need policing knowledge to pass." The College says no policing knowledge is needed for the sift, and interviews test values and behaviours, not law.

What we could not verify

Every force's current process. We read 14 forces' specials pages. Some were closed or look out of date, and several contradict themselves in places, so the invitation you receive is the final word.
Pass rates at any stage. Not published nationally or by the forces we checked.
How the College's standard is enforced. It is a national standard, not a regulation for specials, and we did not find a published list of forces that have adopted it.
Expense rates in most forces. Set locally and rarely published.

Quick answers

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a special constable?

Check you are eligible, then apply to the force you want to volunteer with. Under the College of Policing's national standard (updated 5 October 2026) you then sit the online National Sift and an in-force interview. After that come the fitness test, medical, vetting, references and biometrics, then an offer of a place on a training course. Each force runs its own process, so the order and extras differ.

How long does it take to become a special constable?

Forces give different estimates on their own pages: around 12 weeks (Greater Manchester), about five months (Avon and Somerset), four to seven months (Kent), up to six months (Thames Valley and Essex) and several months (Devon and Cornwall). Vetting alone typically takes around two months at the Met and Devon and Cornwall. Training then adds months more.

Do special constables get paid?

No. Under the Special Constables Regulations 1965 a special is not entitled to pay, but reasonable out-of-pocket expenses can be reimbursed and allowances paid as approved by the local policing body. Some forces add perks, such as free TfL travel for Met specials who do at least 200 hours a year.

What is the minimum age to be a special constable?

You must be 18 before you are appointed. Many forces let you apply at 17, but West Yorkshire, Hampshire, Sussex, Avon and Somerset and Merseyside ask you to be 18 when you apply. There is no upper age limit in the regulations; the Met says its upper limit is typically 57.

Do I need qualifications to be a special constable?

Not nationally. The regulations let the chief officer set English and numeracy assessments, so it depends on the force. Kent, Devon and Cornwall, West Yorkshire and Avon and Somerset say no qualifications are needed; the Met asks for level 2 English and Lancashire for GCSE English at grade C or 4.

Is there a fitness test for special constables?

In every force we checked that states a standard, yes: the 15m multi-stage shuttle run to level 5.4. The College of Policing leaves testing of specials to each force. Kent allows up to three attempts, and West Yorkshire wants the test passed before you are invited to interview.

How many hours does a special constable do?

Most forces ask for at least 16 hours a month. The College says there is no nationally mandated amount. Thames Valley asks for 18 hours a month, West Midlands suggests two shifts a month and Police Scotland asks for 96 hours a year.

What jobs stop you being a special constable?

joiningthepolice.co.uk lists jobs including PCSO, armed forces, traffic and civil enforcement wardens, magistrates, Crown Prosecution Service staff and immigration officers. Forces add their own: Sussex includes taxi and private hire drivers, Thames Valley bar and door staff, and Merseyside holders of Security Industry Authority badges. Check your force's list.

Can I become a special constable with a criminal record?

It depends on the offence and the force. Specials need good character under the regulations and go through police vetting. The Home Office says the July 2026 vetting regulations apply to police candidates and serving officers together with special constables. Our criminal record guide explains the rules.

Do special constables sit the National Sift?

Under the College of Policing's national standard, yes: the National Sift (a situational judgement test and a behavioural styles questionnaire) comes before the in-force interview. Eleven of the 14 forces whose specials pages we read name it. The Met's pages describe an online interview without a sift, and British Transport Police uses its own tests.

Is the special constable interview online or in person?

It depends on the force. The Met and Thames Valley interview online, Devon and Cornwall, Sussex, Avon and Somerset and Lancashire face to face, Essex either way, and Kent uses a virtual interview followed by a face-to-face senior interview. The College says the interview lasts up to 60 minutes.

How long is special constable training?

It varies widely. Of the forces we checked: 23 days at the Met, around 27 days at Essex, 11 full weekends at Lancashire, 12 weekends over six months at Thames Valley, 15 alternate weekends at Avon and Somerset, and four modules over 36 weeks at Devon and Cornwall. Supervised patrol and a portfolio follow, which the College estimates takes 18 to 24 months to directed patrol status.

Do I need a driving licence to be a special constable?

Not nationally. joiningthepolice.co.uk says some forces require one. Devon and Cornwall, Sussex, Avon and Somerset and Police Scotland say you do not need one, although Sussex bars applicants with six or more penalty points.

Can I be a special and apply to be a regular at the same time?

Ask your force first. Devon and Cornwall says a specials application is paused after the National Sift if you also have a regular constable application running.

Evidence

Sources and how we checked them

Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 18 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.

College of Policing: Joining as a special constable (updated 5 October 2026) : national standard for specials recruitment: apply to the force, national sift, in-force panel interview up to 60 minutes, CVF level 1 (accessed 18 October 2026)
College of Policing: Special constables : recruited locally by forces; factors forces consider; no nationally mandated hours, most forces at least 16 a month; learning aligned with PCDA year one; employer supported policing (accessed 18 October 2026)
College of Policing: Training for special constables (first published 29 October 2020) : learning programme stages, directed patrol status estimates (accessed 18 October 2026)
College of Policing: National sift candidate guidance (updated 1 June 2026) : SJT and BSQ format, timings, scoring, resits (accessed 18 October 2026)
College of Policing: Reasonable adjustments and accommodations policy (first published 5 August 2026) : special constabulary recruitment: national sift and in-force interview; adjustment requests (accessed 18 October 2026)
joiningthepolice.co.uk: Special constables : apply from 17, 18 to be offered the role; nationality; 16 hours a month; attestation before a magistrate (accessed 18 October 2026)
joiningthepolice.co.uk: Special constables common questions : residency, no upper age limit, medical, fitness, driving licence, incompatible jobs (accessed 18 October 2026)
Special Constables Regulations 1965, regulations 1 and 4 (legislation.gov.uk) : qualifications for appointment (age 18, nationality, character, health, English and numeracy, drug test); reg 4 expenses and allowances (accessed 18 October 2026)
Police Act 1996, section 27 (legislation.gov.uk) : chief officer appoints special constables (accessed 18 October 2026)
Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10 (legislation.gov.uk) : four-stage rule for candidates for appointment as a constable (accessed 18 October 2026)
Explanatory memorandum to SI 2026/653 (Home Office, PDF) : para 5.8: applies to police candidates and serving officers, together with special constables (accessed 18 October 2026)
Home Office: Special constables expense and allowance rates (1 April 2022) : what expenses cover; amounts set locally (accessed 18 October 2026)
Home Office: Police workforce, England and Wales: 31 March 2026 : special constable headcount, joiners and leavers (accessed 18 October 2026)
Home Office: From Local to National: A New Model for Policing (White Paper, January 2026) : paras 82 to 85: ambition to stabilise and grow specials numbers and streamline recruitment (accessed 18 October 2026)
Force special constable recruitment pages: Met, Greater Manchester, Thames Valley, Kent, Devon and Cornwall, West Yorkshire, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Sussex, Avon and Somerset, Essex, Lancashire, Merseyside, West Midlands, British Transport Police (linked in the force table) : stages, interview, fitness, hours, training, timescales and eligibility as each force states them (accessed 18 October 2026)
Police Scotland: Special constable : own process, Police Scotland Entrance Test, 96 hours a year (accessed 18 October 2026)

Related Guides

On this topic elsewhere

Special Constable Explained → Powers, perks, ranks and the workforce numbers. Officer vs PCSO vs Special → Which role fits you. Criminal Records and Vetting → The 2026 rules explained. Tattoos and Appearance → The national test and force policies. How to Become a PCSO → The paid neighbourhood role's process. Police Entry Routes → Every way into policing compared.

Becoming a special constable

More in this guide series

Interview Interview questions What the in-force interview tests, likely questions and original CVF-based example answers. Sift Do specials sit the sift? What the College says, what forces say, what the SJT and questionnaire involve, and how to check. Hours Hours and commitment The usual 16 hours a month, what forces actually ask for, training time and fitting it round work. Next step Special to regular Which stages you still sit, what counts in place of level 3, prior learning and force routes. The role Special constable explained What the role is: full powers, unpaid, expenses, perks, ranks and the workforce numbers. Fitness Fitness test What the College says, force examples and how to prepare for the shuttle run. Vetting Vetting for specials Where special constable vetting follows officer rules, and where staff rules differ.

Also on PolicePay

Free practice for applicants

Free tool SJT practice Original situational judgement scenarios in the National Sift format. Free tool BSQ practice Try the questionnaire format and see how the statements map to the CVF. Tool Mock interview Answer a CVF interview question out loud and get a scored result. Compare Officer vs PCSO vs special Powers, pay, hours and entry compared.

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 special constables. Each force runs its own special constabulary recruitment, so stages, hours and training differ: always check the advert and recruitment pages of the force you are applying to. Details are as checked on 18 October 2026.

How to Become a Special Constable