Special constables

Specials are very much on the front line making arrests, fighting crime and protecting the public. Many seize training opportunities and move into specialist areas like the roads policing unit, community policing, football unit and the airport unit.

Joining the special constabulary is an opportunity to contribute something to the community and a chance to make friends and learn new skills, like leadership and negotiating, which are directly transferrable to the workplace.

What happens when I join?

Special constables start their journey with a 15-week training course during evenings and weekends where they learn the basics of policing and work towards gaining their warrant card. They will gain an understanding of law, how to deal with different situations and personal safety training. Once the course is complete they will be awarded their warrant card by a senior member of the force in front of family and friends. After that they will sign up to shifts and work alongside our regular officers to start working with the community and gain the essential practical policing skills.

Once they have worked alongside officers and gained a better understanding of policing they will be allocated to a response or community team to help implement warrants, closure orders, work with people in some of the worst moments of their lives and ultimately make Bedfordshire a safer place. There are also many training opportunities available and opportunities to move into specialist areas like the roads policing unit, dog handling, football unit and airport unit.