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You already have a career you love - now you want a different challenge in your spare time. As a special constable officer, you'll have the same uniform and powers as regular officers. From being first on the scene and taking knives off the streets to educating young people, you'll work alongside regular police officers and PCSOs to make Sussex safer.
Our 'Specials', as the special constables are known, come from all walks of life. They are men and women of all races and faiths, including teachers, taxi drivers, chefs, accountants, and secretaries. They volunteer a minimum of 16 hours a month. When you join Sussex Police, you become part of our policing family—we are with you each step of the way.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the role, you will:
1. Be aged 18 years or over when applying. There is no upper age limit.
2. Hold a GCSE or equivalent (A*-C) in Maths and English or a Bachelor's Degree. If you do not have this, you can undertake a skills test to assess your Maths and English level—if you meet the level 2 standard, your application will continue.
3. Have lived in the UK for three continuous years immediately prior to application.
4. Have leave to enter or remain and work in the UK for an indefinite period.
5. Not be a member of the British National Party (BNP) or other relevant organisations, such as Combat 18 or The National Front.
6. Be able to volunteer at least 16 hours a month.
7. Not have tattoos that can be seen as discriminatory, violent, intimidating, or offensive.
8. Not have 6 or more penalty points on your driving license within three years prior to the application date. (A driving license is not required to apply.)
9. Be aware that certain jobs are considered incompatible with the role of a special constable. Please see the detailed list or contact us for clarification.
Training
Training to become a Special Constable consists of 15 alternate weekends and 13 evenings of training. These sessions are a mix of face-to-face and virtual formats. Due to the extensive learning involved, missing a day is not permitted.
The dates for our 2025 intakes will be confirmed in due course.
Recruitment Process
Eligibility checks
Online Tests (Behavioural Styles Questionnaire and Situational Judgement Test)
Level 2 Assessments (for those without GCSE Maths and English)
In-force Assessment
Course Start - February 2025 & October 2025
Why Work With Us?
We pride ourselves on supporting our volunteers. Through volunteering, you will have the opportunity to:
* Experience policing first-hand
* Meet new people and teams
* Learn and develop your skills
We have recognition schemes to formally appreciate your service.
As a Special Constable, you will have access to financial and mental well-being guidance and support, discounts for everyday spend, on-site gyms, and various sports clubs. Volunteering with us may also open doors to other voluntary and paid positions within the Force.
Diversity Statement
We value the diversity of our people. It's essential that officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace. We believe that a variety of perspectives, approaches, and skills enhances our ability to deliver better policing services. We strive to ensure our services, information delivery, and recruitment are open and accessible to all.
We have multiple support groups to improve understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, Disability Confident, a signatory of the Race at Work Charter, and aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.
We are committed to being an anti-racist police service. We promise to challenge injustice, ensure fairness, and uphold anti-racist principles within our organization and communities. For more information, please read our diversity and inclusion policies.
We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and communities, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, social status, or religious belief.
Please use the following links to learn more about our initiatives on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Additional Information
After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Please check your spam/junk folders regularly, and consider adding our email address to your contacts to ensure you receive all communications.
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