Do Special Constables
Get Paid?
Special constables hold the same powers as regular officers but are volunteers. This guide sets out exactly what the law allows instead of pay, the national guidance, real expense rates published by forces, travel and council tax perks, loss of earnings, the Scottish rules, tax and benefits and how the role can lead to a paid job.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 21 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
No. In England and Wales, regulation 4 of the Special Constables Regulations 1965 says a special constable is not entitled to any pay. Forces can repay reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (travel, meals, kit), pay an allowance for earnings you lose when needed in work hours and pay sick pay for lost earnings after an injury on duty. Some forces and councils add perks: Met specials doing 200 hours a year get free TfL travel and some councils give specials 25% off council tax. Scotland has its own rules.
Every rule below comes from the regulations themselves, the Home Office's current guidance on special constable expenses and the forces' and councils' own pages, read on 21 October 2026. Rates are set locally and change, so each figure is labelled with the force it belongs to and the date that force gives. Where we could not confirm something, it is listed at the end rather than stated as fact.
The short answer: no salary, but not nothing
A special constable is a volunteer police officer. Once attested you have the same powers as a regular constable, but you are not employed and you are not paid for your time. That is a legal rule, not a force policy: regulation 4(4) of the Special Constables Regulations 1965 says a special constable "shall not be entitled to any remuneration" for their services as such.
What the same regulations do allow is money that stops volunteering from costing you:
- Expenses. Reasonable out-of-pocket costs on duty, such as travel, refreshments and some kit.
- Loss of earnings. An allowance equal to the pay you actually lose from your job when a force needs you during your working hours, usually for court.
- Sick pay. If you are injured on duty and lose earnings from your job, up to 28 weeks.
- Locally approved allowances. The local policing body can approve other allowances, which the Home Office calls one-off payments.
On top of that, some forces and councils offer perks that have real cash value: free travel, a council tax discount, cheap discount cards and paid-for Federation membership. None of these is national, so what you get depends on where you serve.
| Question | England and Wales | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
| Salary? | No (regulation 4(4), 1965 Regulations) | No; allowances and expenses set by the Scottish Ministers |
| Expenses? | Yes, reasonable out-of-pocket costs; rates set by each force | Yes; travel, food and boots in Police Scotland's 2016 SOP |
| Loss of earnings? | Yes, your actual loss when required in work hours | Yes, your actual daily loss (taxable) |
| Annual payment? | No national one; local policing bodies may approve one | A £1,100 periodic payment was described in the 2016 SOP; current status not confirmed |
| Pension? | No | No |
| Perks? | Force and council specific (travel, council tax, discount cards) | Employer supported policing time off where your employer takes part |
What the law says: regulations 4 and 5
The Special Constables Regulations 1965 are still the rules for specials in England and Wales. Two regulations deal with money. We read the current version on legislation.gov.uk, which shows no outstanding changes for either.
| Rule | What it says, in plain English | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation 4(4) | A special constable is not entitled to any remuneration for their services as a special constable. | This is why there is no salary, no pay scale and no police pension. |
| Regulation 4(1) | Out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in the execution of duty may be reimbursed, or an allowance paid instead of reimbursement. | The legal basis for mileage, fares, meals and kit claims. |
| Regulation 4(2)(a) | An allowance may be paid for loss of pay from your private employment while you are required for duty. | Normally only when a force needs you during your working hours, such as court. |
| Regulation 4(2)(b) | An allowance may be paid for such other matters as the local policing body approves. | The hook for locally approved one-off payments. The Home Office says amounts and conditions are for local policing bodies. |
| Regulation 4(3) | The amount and conditions of these allowances are as the local policing body approves. | So rates differ from force to force. |
| Regulation 5 | Sick pay if you lose earnings from your private job because of an injury or disease from duty, for as long as you lose earnings or 28 weeks if sooner, less sickness benefit or statutory sick pay. | A safety net for injuries on duty, not a wage. |
Two details are worth knowing. First, since 1 April 2015 the allowances in regulation 4(2)(b) and 4(3) are approved by the local policing body for the area (in most of England and Wales, the police and crime commissioner) rather than the old police authority. That is why expense rates differ between neighbouring forces. Second, regulation 4(1) allows an allowance "in lieu of" reimbursement, so a force can pay a flat refreshment rate by shift length instead of asking for every receipt. Thames Valley and British Transport Police both do this (rates below).
The special constabulary is a volunteer force by design. Paying a wage would make specials employees or workers, with everything that brings. GOV.UK makes the same point for any volunteer: receiving a payment, reward or benefit in kind beyond expenses could mean you are classed as an employee or worker rather than a volunteer. Keeping specials to expenses and narrowly defined allowances keeps the role voluntary.
What you can actually claim
In practice, the money a special receives falls into five groups. Most specials only ever claim the first two.
- Travel to and from duty. Mileage in your own car or public transport fares, at the force's rates. Thames Valley covers fuel and public transport but not taxis. British Transport Police reimburses reasonable standard class public transport to and from duty (with receipts) as well as free National Rail travel on duty and an Oyster card in London.
- Refreshments on longer shifts. Usually a set amount by shift length, with nothing for short shifts. Thames Valley pays nothing for 4 hours or less and up to £24.15 for a 12 to 24 hour duty.
- Kit. Uniform and protective equipment are issued, not bought. Some forces pay towards boots (Thames Valley up to £68 every two years); the old national £30 boot allowance was withdrawn in 2005.
- Loss of earnings. When a force needs you during your normal working hours, such as for court, you can claim the pay you actually lose. You will need evidence from your employer.
- Sick pay after an injury on duty. The pay you lose from your job, for up to 28 weeks, less any statutory sick pay or sickness benefit.
Claims are made through the force's own expenses system, usually with receipts and within a time limit. Ask about the process at your first training session: specials who never claim lose money they are entitled to.
The Home Office guidance on special constable expenses (2022)
The Home Office published its current guidance on special constables' expense and allowance rates on 1 April 2022. It replaces the 2014 guidance, which it says should no longer be used. Despite its title, it sets no national rates: it tells chief officers and police and crime commissioners what they may pay and leaves the amounts to them.
| Heading | What the guidance says | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Subsistence and lodging | Chief officers and police and crime commissioners may reimburse actual costs on a receipt. | No national rate |
| Mileage | Chief officers may pay a mileage allowance where a regular officer would get one under Annex U of the Police Regulations 2003 determinations. | No national rate |
| Loss of earnings | An allowance equal to your actual daily loss of earnings in your private employment, for duty you could not avoid in working hours (court is the example given). | Your actual loss |
| One-off payments | An allowance under regulation 4(2)(b); the amount and conditions are for local policing bodies to approve. | Set locally, if at all |
| Sick pay | Unchanged: regulation 5 of the 1965 Regulations. | Your lost earnings, up to 28 weeks |
| Other out-of-pocket costs | Chief officers may reimburse other valid expenses. | Actual cost |
| Boot allowance | The old national £30 boot allowance was withdrawn in Home Office Circular 40/2005 and stays withdrawn. | None nationally (some forces pay their own) |
The guidance says specials "would normally only be expected to attend for duty outside their working hours". Loss of earnings is for the exceptions, such as giving evidence in court, where attendance is unavoidable. The chief officer decides when you can be required to attend.
Real rates published by forces
Most forces do not publish their specials' expense rates; they explain them during training. Two forces we checked publish them on their recruitment pages.
Thames Valley Police (correct as of December 2024)
| Shift length or item | Thames Valley rate |
|---|---|
| Up to and including 4 hours | Nil |
| Over 4 hours, not over 8 hours | Up to £7.23 |
| Over 8 hours, not over 12 hours | Up to £14.66 |
| Over 12 hours, not over 24 hours | Up to £24.15 |
| Boots | Up to £68 per two-year period |
| Travel | Mileage, fuel and public transport to and from your place of duty; not taxis |
Thames Valley also asks specials for at least 18 hours a month and to live within 20 miles of a police station, so travel claims should be modest. Its page labels the rates "correct as of December 2024", so they may have been updated since.
British Transport Police
| Duty length or item | BTP allowance or concession |
|---|---|
| 4 to 8 hours | £10.78 |
| 8.01 to 12 hours | £18.33 |
| 12.01 to 24 hours | £30.20 |
| Rail travel on duty | Free on all National Rail services, in or out of uniform (show your warrant card on request) |
| Oyster card | Issued for duty, travel to and from work and leisure; TfL services only, not National Rail |
BTP's allowance starts at 4 hours, while Thames Valley's refreshment rate starts above 4 hours, so a 4-hour BTP duty attracts an allowance where a 4-hour Thames Valley duty does not. BTP's page also says paid expenses and travel benefits depend on location. BTP asks for at least 16 hours a month.
For every other force, ask the specials coordinator for the current rates before you commit. The questions worth asking: the mileage rate and any cap, whether travel from your workplace is covered, the refreshment bands by shift length, whether any kit is paid for and whether childcare counts as an out-of-pocket expense.
Travel and council tax perks
The most valuable benefits for many specials are not expenses at all but perks tied to a minimum number of hours. These are local and some come from councils rather than the force.
| Where | Perk | Condition | Source and date read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Police | Free travel on TfL services, on and off duty, plus a council tax rebate on the Greater London Authority element | At least 200 hours of duty a year | Met special constable benefits page (last read 18 October 2026) |
| British Transport Police | Free National Rail travel on duty; Oyster card for duty, commuting and leisure on TfL; Blue Light Card for £4.99 over two years; Police Federation membership paid for | Being a BTP special | BTP specials and volunteers page (read 21 October 2026) |
| Telford and Wrekin (West Mercia) | 25% off the council tax bill | More than 200 hours of volunteering a year and living in the borough | Telford and Wrekin Council news, 3 September 2026 |
| South Kesteven (Lincolnshire) | 25% council tax discount for each eligible special in the household, up to 50% | Apply to the council; scheme running since 1 April 2022 | South Kesteven council tax support consultation papers for 2026/27 |
| Thames Valley | Same uniform, equipment and power of arrest as regulars; response driving training; employer supported policing where your employer takes part | Being a TVP special | TVP special constables page (read 21 October 2026) |
Two points on these perks. First, they are generous only if you hit the hours: Met travel and the Telford and Wrekin discount both need 200 or more hours a year, which is about 16 or 17 hours a month. Second, council tax discounts depend on the council where you live, not the force you serve with, so check your own council's council tax support or discount page.
Councils that run these schemes say they want more people to volunteer locally. They are not universal or uncontested: in South Kesteven's consultation on keeping its scheme for 2026/27, two thirds of respondents (277, or 66.6%) supported it, while others asked why specials should be treated differently from other emergency service volunteers.
Loss of earnings and sick pay
Two allowances replace pay you lose from your own job. Neither is a wage for volunteering; both exist so that serving as a special does not leave you worse off.
Loss of earnings
Regulation 4(2)(a) allows an allowance when you are required for duty at a time you would otherwise be at work. The Home Office guidance says it can equal your actual daily loss of earnings from your private employment. In practice the main case is court: if you arrest someone and the case goes to trial, you may be called as a witness on a weekday. Expect to need a letter or payslip from your employer showing what you lost.
Sick pay after an injury on duty
Regulation 5 covers you if you lose pay from your private job because of an injury or disease from your duty, or while on duty or travelling to or from duty. You get the rate of the pay you lose, for as long as you keep losing it or for 28 weeks, whichever is shorter. Any statutory sick pay or sickness benefit you receive is deducted.
Loss of earnings and sick pay claims are far easier when your employer already knows you are a special. Some employers also give paid time off (next section), which can mean there is no loss to claim at all.
Paid time off from your employer
The closest thing to being paid for special duties comes from your employer, not the police. Under employer supported policing, an employer agrees with a force to give staff who are specials paid time off to train or serve. The College of Policing describes these schemes on its special constables page and Police Scotland and Thames Valley both mention them on their recruitment pages.
- The time off is paid by your employer at your normal rate, so it is part of your usual salary, not a police payment.
- The amount of time is set by each employer's scheme. There is no national minimum.
- Police Scotland's 2016 SOP said hours given through an employer scheme did not count towards its periodic payment, only hours above them. Ask how your own force treats them for any hours-based perk.
Ask your HR team whether your employer takes part before you apply. If it does, it may also help with initial training, which often takes many weekends.
Across the UK: the rules side by side
The answer to "do specials get paid?" is no everywhere in the UK, but the rules behind it differ by nation and by force.
| Where | Rules | Money | Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| England and Wales (43 forces) | Special Constables Regulations 1965, regulation 4 | No pay; expenses and allowances approved by the local policing body | Force and council specific |
| British Transport Police | BTP specials and volunteers page | Published allowances of £10.78 to £30.20 by duty length | Free National Rail travel on duty; Oyster card; Blue Light Card |
| Scotland | Police Service of Scotland (Special Constables) Regulations 2013, regulations 21 and 22 | No pay; allowances, periodic payments and expenses set by the Scottish Ministers | Employer supported policing; a periodic payment in the 2016 SOP |
| Northern Ireland | No special constable route listed on the PSNI's careers pages | Not applicable | Not applicable |
BTP is worth singling out. It is the one force we checked that publishes an allowance starting at a 4-hour duty and its travel concessions are the most generous we found for anyone who commutes by train.
Police Scotland: different rules
Scotland has its own legislation. Under regulations 21 and 22 of the Police Service of Scotland (Special Constables) Regulations 2013, the Scottish Ministers must determine special constables' allowances, periodic payments and expenses, and no allowance or periodic payment may be paid except as provided by or under those regulations. Police Scotland's recruitment page describes specials as volunteers with the same powers as full-time colleagues, asking for a minimum of 96 hours a year.
The most detailed published account of what that means is Police Scotland's special constabulary Standard Operating Procedure, version 1.00, published on 31 October 2016 through its freedom of information publication scheme. It is nearly ten years old and carries a notice that it may have been redacted, so treat the figures as the position in 2016.
| Item | What the 2016 SOP says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | The Scottish Ministers determine special constables' allowances, periodic payments and expenses (regulations 21 and 22). | Police Service of Scotland (Special Constables) Regulations 2013 |
| Travel | Travel to duty from home or work by public transport or car reimbursed; mileage at police staff rates; the Chief Constable may set a limit. | SOP 2016, section 6.5 |
| Food and refreshment | The same provisions as a regular officer. | SOP 2016, section 6.3 |
| Boots | £30 a year, paid in arrears after 96 hours of duty in the financial year; non-taxable. | SOP 2016, section 6.4 |
| Loss of remuneration | Your actual daily loss of earnings when required for duty during your usual working time; taxable. | SOP 2016, section 6.2 |
| Periodic payment | A voluntary scheme: a one-off taxable payment of £1,100 for 180 hours (45 four-hour duties) of operational duty in the year, with at least two years' service before 31 October. | SOP 2016, section 6.9 |
The periodic payment is the nearest thing in the UK to an annual payment for specials. Under the 2016 SOP it was optional (you had to sign up), paid once at the end of the April to March year, put through payroll with tax and National Insurance deducted and did not count initial training before swearing in. Up to 60 hours of Police Scotland Youth Volunteers work could count. The Chief Constable kept the right to end the scheme. We could not find a current Police Scotland page confirming the scheme or the £1,100 figure in 2026, so ask the recruitment team before relying on it.
For the Scottish recruitment process (the Police Scotland Entrance Test, the 5.4 fitness test and 96 hours a year), see our Police Scotland special constable guide.
Northern Ireland
When we checked the PSNI's recruitment site, its careers pages listed police officer and police staff roles only, with no special constable route. So there is currently no volunteer officer role to be paid or unpaid for. For the paid student officer route, see how to join the PSNI.
Tax, benefits and Universal Credit
Because specials are volunteers, the general GOV.UK rules on volunteer expenses are the starting point. GOV.UK says volunteers are not paid for their time but may get money to cover expenses, "usually limited to food, drink, travel or any equipment you need to buy" and that you may need to pay tax on driving expenses if you get back more than you spent.
- Expenses that repay what you spent are generally not income. A mileage rate set above your real costs could leave a taxable surplus, which is the point GOV.UK makes about driving expenses.
- Loss of earnings allowances replace taxable pay and Police Scotland's 2016 SOP said its loss of remuneration allowance was taxable.
- Scottish travel rules in 2016: travel to and from your normal place of duty was taxable; travel to training or to other places was not; boots were non-taxable; out-of-pocket expenses were "likely to be taxable" depending on the claim.
On benefits, GOV.UK says you can volunteer while claiming as long as the only money you get from volunteering covers expenses, like travel and you continue to meet the conditions of the benefit. Police Scotland's 2016 SOP told specials on Jobseeker's Allowance to declare their voluntary work and confirm with their benefits office that it did not affect their claim. That is good advice anywhere: tell your Jobcentre or benefits office before you start.
This section summarises GOV.UK and Police Scotland's published guidance. Your force's payroll or finance team can tell you how it treats each claim and HMRC is the authority on your own tax position.
A worked month: what three shifts might bring back
An illustration only, using Thames Valley's published refreshment bands (correct as of December 2024) and three shifts a special might do in a month. These are upper limits ("up to"), not guaranteed payments and travel is claimed separately.
| Shift | Length | Refreshment allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Friday late shift | 8 hours | Up to £7.23 |
| Saturday night shift | 10 hours | Up to £14.66 |
| Sunday community event | 4 hours | Nil |
| Month total | 22 hours | Up to £21.89 |
That is 22 hours of policing for refreshments of up to £21.89, plus mileage or fares. It shows the point clearly: expenses offset costs, they do not pay for your time. A 4-hour duty attracts nothing at Thames Valley, while the same duty at British Transport Police would attract its £10.78 allowance.
How to claim expenses as a special
Each force runs its own claims system, so the detail differs, but the steps are much the same everywhere.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Find the rules | Ask your specials coordinator or training team for the force's expenses policy and the current rates in your first weeks. |
| 2. Keep evidence | Keep receipts for meals and fares and a record of journeys (date, from, to, miles) for mileage. |
| 3. Record duty hours accurately | Allowances by shift length and hours-based perks depend on the hours recorded for each duty. |
| 4. Claim on time | Use the force's expenses system and claim promptly. Forces can set time limits. |
| 5. Loss of earnings needs proof | For court or other duty in work hours, get a letter or payslip from your employer showing the pay you lost. |
| 6. Check the tax treatment | Ask payroll whether a payment is taxed, especially loss of earnings or any hours-based payment. |
Police Scotland's 2016 SOP adds a useful example of the record keeping involved: loss of remuneration claims were made on a report with confirmation of the amount, typically a letter from the special's main employer.
What volunteering can still cost you
Expenses are meant to stop specials being out of pocket, but they rarely cover everything. Before you apply, be honest about these costs:
| Cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Fuel or fares not covered | Some forces cap travel or pay only to your normal place of duty; check the force's rules before you rely on a claim. |
| Shifts under the meal threshold | Thames Valley pays nothing for refreshments on duties of 4 hours or less, so short shifts are often self-funded. |
| Lost overtime or shifts at work | If you volunteer instead of taking extra paid hours, that is a real cost even if no allowance is lost. |
| Childcare | Not listed in the Home Office guidance. Ask whether your force treats it as a valid out-of-pocket expense. |
| Training weekends | Initial training can take many weekends (see the force table below). Police Scotland's 2016 SOP says initial training before swearing in does not count towards its periodic payment. |
Hours are the biggest commitment. Most forces ask for about 16 hours a month after training and initial training itself takes many weekends. Here is what the first eight forces in our specials table say (read 18 October 2026):
| Force | Hours asked for | Initial training |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Police | A minimum of 200 hours a year, equal to 16 hours a month | 23 days, non-residential: 13 weeks of Saturday or Sunday courses, or 23 consecutive weekdays |
| Greater Manchester Police | A minimum of 16 hours a month | 10 to 12 weekends over about 3 months, plus personal safety training over 8 consecutive weekdays |
| Thames Valley Police | At least 18 hours a month | 12 weekends over six months, on alternate weekends |
| Kent Police | A minimum of 16 hours each month | Around six to seven months on alternate weekends, or a five-week weekday course |
| Devon and Cornwall Police | 16 hours a month on average, equal to 200 hours a year | Four modules over 36 weeks, mixing distance learning and weekends |
| West Yorkshire Police | A minimum of 16 hours a month, such as two eight-hour shifts | 18 weeks of alternate weekends and some weekday evenings |
| Hampshire and Isle of Wight | A minimum of 16 hours | Several months of weekend and evening classes at Hamble, in two phases |
| Sussex Police | At least 16 hours a month | 15 alternate weekends and 13 evenings |
The full table for 14 forces is in our guide to special constable hours.
Specials compared with the paid roles
People often weigh the special constabulary against the two paid frontline roles. On money alone, the difference is stark.
| Role | Pay | Powers | Basis | Pension |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special constable | None (expenses and allowances only) | Full constable powers once attested | Volunteer; most forces ask for about 16 hours a month | No |
| Police constable | £32,255 on point 1, rising to £52,015 (2026/27, plus any location allowance) | Full constable powers | Paid officer, full or part time | Yes, the Police Pension Scheme 2015 |
| PCSO | A salary set by each force on its police staff grades | Only the powers the chief officer designates; no power of arrest | Paid police staff role | Yes, the Local Government Pension Scheme |
Constable pay is from the 2026/27 scale used across PolicePay. PCSO pay is set locally; see our guide to becoming a PCSO for force examples.
Common myths about specials and money
| Myth | The facts |
|---|---|
| "Specials get a small wage." | No. Regulation 4(4) of the 1965 Regulations rules out any remuneration in England and Wales. |
| "There is a national boot allowance." | Not since 2005. The Home Office says the £30 boot allowance was withdrawn in HOC 40/2005; some forces pay their own. |
| "Every special gets free travel." | Only where a force or transport operator offers it, usually with conditions (the Met's needs 200 hours a year). |
| "Specials get a council tax discount." | Only in council areas that choose to offer one, such as Telford and Wrekin and South Kesteven. |
| "Specials time counts towards a police pension." | No. With no pay there is no pensionable pay and specials hours are not pensionable service as a regular. |
| "Specials are paid in Scotland." | Not a salary. Scotland's rules allow allowances and periodic payments set by the Scottish Ministers; the 2016 SOP described an optional £1,100 payment for 180 hours. |
Questions to ask your force before you join
Most forces explain expenses at a recruitment event or in training. Ask these questions early so there are no surprises.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What mileage rate do you pay and is there a cap? | Travel is most specials' biggest cost. |
| Do you pay travel from my workplace as well as from home? | Many specials go straight from work to a shift. |
| What are the refreshment bands by shift length? | Short shifts often attract nothing. |
| Do you pay towards boots or other kit? | There is no national allowance. |
| Are there hours-based perks (travel, council tax, discount cards)? | Perks can be worth more than expenses, but usually need a set number of hours. |
| Does training count towards those hours? | Police Scotland's 2016 SOP excluded initial training from its periodic payment. |
| How do I claim loss of earnings for court? | You will need your employer's evidence. |
| Does my employer take part in employer supported policing? | Paid time off from your employer is the closest thing to pay. |
Why people do it without pay
There were 5,196 special constables in England and Wales on 31 March 2026 (Home Office headcount), well below the 20,343 in 2012. Those who join without pay usually give a mix of reasons:
- Trying policing before committing. You do real shifts with full powers before deciding whether to apply as a regular.
- Interview evidence. Real incidents give you strong examples for the competency questions in the regular recruitment process.
- A route round the level 3 requirement. A chief officer can accept specials service in place of level 3 for the PCDA and PCEP (next section).
- Giving something back to a community where you already live and work, on hours you choose around a paid job.
- Skills employers value, such as handling conflict, first aid and decisions under pressure.
If the money matters more than the experience, compare the paid alternatives first: a regular constable or a PCSO. Our guide to police officer vs PCSO vs special constable sets the three side by side.
From special to paid officer
Specials do not move onto the pay scale. If you want a salary, you apply as a new police constable candidate and sit the same national recruitment stages as everyone else (except transferees). What your specials service can do:
- Stand in for level 3. Home Office Annex BA lets a chief officer accept service as a special constable, for a period the chief officer specifies, in place of a level 3 qualification for the PCDA and PCEP.
- Give you better answers. The force interview and online assessment ask for real examples. Specials have them.
- Show the force you can do the job. Some forces run specials-to-regulars routes. The Met, for example, said specials with 200 hours of operational service and independent patrol status could apply to become a new constable.
Once appointed as a regular constable in England and Wales you start on £32,255 on pay point 1 of the 2026/27 scale, rising to £52,015 at point 7, plus any London or South East allowance. Your hours as a special do not count as pensionable service. Read more in special constable to regular police officer and see the police salary calculator for take-home pay.
If you want to apply
Under the College of Policing's national standard, special constable applicants in England and Wales apply to the force, then sit the online National Sift (a situational judgement test and a behavioural styles questionnaire) and an in-force interview, all at CVF level 1. Fitness, medical, vetting and references follow. Every stage is in our guide to becoming a special constable.
The free practice above is enough for many applicants. If you want more, the National Sift practice page offers the Sift Prep Pass (£19.99) and the Sift and Mock Interview bundle (£45.99), which covers the two stages specials sit online and at interview. Both are one-off payments. Neither is official College of Policing or force material and neither guarantees a pass.
Sift and recruitment alerts
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What we could not verify
- Police Scotland's current allowances. The only published detail is the 2016 SOP. We found no current page confirming the £1,100 periodic payment, the £30 boot allowance or the mileage terms in 2026.
- The Met's benefits page on 21 October 2026. The Met's site blocked automated reading on 21 October 2026. The TfL travel and council tax rebate details are from our reading on 18 October 2026.
- Current one-off payments in England and Wales. Regulation 4(2)(b) allows them and the Home Office guidance describes them, but we did not find a force publishing one now. We have not described any historic allowance scheme because we could not verify one from a primary source.
- Other council tax schemes. We confirmed Telford and Wrekin and South Kesteven. Other councils may run similar schemes; we have not listed any we could not confirm.
- Expense rates in most forces. Most forces do not publish them. Thames Valley's are dated December 2024 and may have changed.
- Injury benefits beyond sick pay. This page covers regulation 5 sick pay only. Ask your force about any wider injury provision for specials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do special constables get paid?
No. Regulation 4 of the Special Constables Regulations 1965 says a special constable is not entitled to any remuneration for their services. What you can get is reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, allowances approved by your local policing body (such as loss of earnings when a force needs you in your working hours) and, in some forces and council areas, perks such as free travel or a council tax discount.
What expenses can a special constable claim?
Reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred on duty. The Home Office's 2022 guidance lists subsistence and lodging on a receipt, mileage where a regular officer would get it, loss of earnings, sick pay under regulation 5 and other valid out-of-pocket costs. Each force sets its own rates and rules. Thames Valley, for example, pays refreshments of up to £7.23 to £24.15 depending on shift length and up to £68 towards boots every two years.
Do Met special constables get free travel?
The Met says specials who do at least 200 hours of duty a year get free travel on TfL services on and off duty, plus a council tax rebate on the Greater London Authority element. We last read that on the Met's benefits page on 18 October 2026; check it is still offered when you apply.
Do special constables get a council tax discount?
Only where a council has chosen to offer one. Telford and Wrekin Council announced a 25% reduction for specials who volunteer more than 200 hours a year (3 September 2026) and South Kesteven has offered 25% per eligible special in a household, up to 50%, since April 2022. The Met's rebate is on the Greater London Authority element only. There is no national scheme.
Do special constables get paid for going to court?
Not a wage, but if you lose earnings from your job because you must attend, regulation 4(2)(a) allows an allowance equal to your actual loss and the Home Office guidance gives court as the example of unavoidable attendance in working hours. Police Scotland's 2016 SOP says court-related loss of earnings is claimed from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service like any other witness.
Are special constables paid in Scotland?
Not a salary. Scotland has its own regulations, under which the Scottish Ministers set allowances and expenses. Police Scotland's special constabulary SOP (published 2016) described a voluntary periodic payment of £1,100 a year for 180 hours of duty after two years' service, plus a £30 boot allowance and travel. We could not confirm whether those amounts still apply in 2026.
Is there a special constable bounty or annual payment in England and Wales?
There is no national one. Regulation 4(2)(b) lets a local policing body approve an allowance and the Home Office guidance calls this a one-off payment whose amount and conditions are set locally. We did not find a force currently publishing such a payment, so ask your force directly.
Do special constables get paid during training?
No. Initial training is unpaid in the same way as duty. Travel to training is normally treated as an expense under your force's policy. Police Scotland's 2016 SOP said travel to training away from your normal place of duty was paid at full mileage and was not taxable. Ask your force how it handles training travel, because initial training can take many weekends.
Are special constable expenses taxed?
Usually not, if they only repay what you actually spent. GOV.UK says volunteers may need to pay tax on driving expenses if they get back more than they spent. Police Scotland's 2016 SOP treats loss of earnings and travel to your normal place of duty as taxable and boots and travel to training elsewhere as non-taxable, which shows the treatment depends on what the payment is for.
Can I be a special constable while claiming benefits?
GOV.UK says you can volunteer while claiming benefits if the only money you get from volunteering covers expenses, like travel and you continue to meet the conditions of your benefit. Tell your Jobcentre or benefits office before you start.
Do specials get a police pension?
No. A police pension is built from pensionable pay and specials have no pay under regulation 4. Hours as a special also do not count as pensionable service if you later join as a regular.
Can being a special lead to a paid police job?
Yes, many regulars started as specials, but you apply as a new constable and sit the full recruitment process. A chief officer can accept special constable service in place of a level 3 qualification for the PCDA and PCEP (Home Office Annex BA). A new regular constable in England and Wales starts on £32,255 on pay point 1 of the 2026/27 scale.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 21 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.
- The Special Constables Regulations 1965, regulation 4 (legislation.gov.uk) : no entitlement to remuneration; out-of-pocket expenses; loss of earnings allowance; other allowances approved by the local policing body (wording from 1 April 2015, SI 2015/461) (accessed 21 October 2026)
- The Special Constables Regulations 1965, regulation 5 (legislation.gov.uk) : sick pay for lost earnings after injury or disease on duty, up to 28 weeks, less sickness benefit or statutory sick pay (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Home Office: Special constables expense and allowance rates (published 1 April 2022) : supersedes the 2014 guidance; subsistence, mileage, loss of earnings, one-off payments, sick pay, other expenses; £30 boot allowance withdrawn by HOC 40/2005 (accessed 21 October 2026)
- The Police Service of Scotland (Special Constables) Regulations 2013, Part 5 (legislation.gov.uk) : regulations 21 and 22: the Scottish Ministers determine allowances, periodic payments and expenses (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Special Constabulary Standard Operating Procedure, version 1.00 (published 31 October 2016, FOI publication scheme) : 96 hours a year; loss of remuneration; food; £30 boot allowance; travel and mileage; out-of-pocket expenses; periodic payment of £1,100; tax treatment (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Special Constable : volunteers; same powers as full-time officers; minimum 96 hours a year; employer supported policing (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Thames Valley Police: Special constables : expenses and allowances correct as of December 2024: refreshment bands, boots up to £68 per two years, travel; 18 hours a month (accessed 21 October 2026)
- British Transport Police: Specials and volunteers : allowances £10.78, £18.33 and £30.20 by duty length; free National Rail travel on duty; Oyster card; Blue Light Card; Federation membership; 16 hours a month (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Metropolitan Police: Special constable benefits, training and support : free TfL travel and council tax rebate on the GLA element for specials doing at least 200 hours a year (read 18 October 2026; the site blocked automated reading on 21 October 2026) (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Telford and Wrekin Council: Council tax discount for special constables (3 September 2026) : 25% reduction for specials volunteering more than 200 hours a year who live in the borough; backed by the West Mercia PCC (accessed 21 October 2026)
- South Kesteven District Council: Localised Council Tax Support Scheme 2026/27, Appendix 1 : special constable discount since 1 April 2022: 25% per eligible special, up to 50%; consultation support for 2026/27 (accessed 21 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Volunteer opportunities, rights and expenses: Pay and expenses : volunteers are not paid; expenses usually food, drink, travel or equipment; tax on driving expenses if you get back more than you spent (accessed 21 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Volunteer opportunities, rights and expenses: When you can volunteer : volunteering on benefits when the only money is expenses and benefit conditions are still met (accessed 21 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Special constables : employer supported policing; most forces ask for at least 16 hours a month (accessed 21 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Joining as a special constable : national standard: application, National Sift and in-force interview (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Home Office: Annex BA, policing qualifications and experience (Circular 002/2024) : special constable service accepted in place of level 3 for the PCDA and PCEP, for a period the chief officer specifies (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Home Office: Police workforce, England and Wales, 31 March 2026 : special constable headcount (accessed 21 October 2026)
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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 21 October 2026.