Specials, PCSOs and Volunteers
Not every police officer is the same: Some are part-time, some specialise in helping the community and other provide essential support across our department.
Special Constable
A part-time, volunteer police officer with all the powers of regular officers. We ask for a minimum commitment of just four hours a month, but of course you can do more!
PCSO
A salaried officer who focuses on the concerns of communities, often working in partnership with groups to solve problems and help tackle anti-social behaviour.
Police Support Volunteer
A chance to gain experience across different aspects of policing while developing new skills.
Special Constable
Special by name and by nature. Special constables play a vital role in all police forces. They’re part-time volunteers from all walks of life, but they essentially do the same job as full-time officers. Just like our regulars, we want to ensure they represent every aspect of the diverse Northamptonshire community.
You’ll receive full training, your uniform (which is the same uniform as full-time officers), and we’ll pay any out-of-pocket expenses. As a result, you’ll be welcomed into the police, and develop as an individual in new ways.
It’s a fantastic and flexible way into the police if you need to fit it around other responsibilities, and the experience can help you stand out if you decide to apply for a police officer role later. Serving as a special also looks great on your CV when you’re applying for other careers outside of the police too.
If being a special constable sounds right up your street and you can give us at least four hours per month, you can find out about how to apply, and what skills and experience will help here.
Find out how Ben Baines is proud to work as a special constable.
“A lot of people ask me how I manage to balance being a deputy head teacher alongside the role of a special constable and still have time for my children and personal life, but what I’d say about the Special Constabulary is that they’re very flexible in terms of how much you work…”
Police Community Support Officer
If you like the idea of working face-to-face with the diverse range of people in your community, then a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) may be what you’re looking for.
The key difference is that PCSO’s are members of police staff and as such do not have the power to arrest. Your focus will be on patrolling the streets and helping people, so communication and problem-solving skills are vital.
Find out how Kirsten is helping to keep Daventry’s communities safe.
For more details about how to apply, click here.
Police Support Volunteer
We’re looking to attract more people from under-represented backgrounds to join us as volunteers. You could find yourself playing a role in many different aspects of Northamptonshire Police, including supporting police officers and PCSOs, but you could equally be providing support from an office as part of our E-Forensics and Safer Roads Teams.
Whatever you do, it will be exciting and absorbing and you’ll be playing an important role in your community.
Find out more here.
