How Does it Work?
Supporting organisations allow their staff to be trained as Special Constables and provide them with paid leave to undertake police duties. Special Constables have full police powers to carry out patrols in key areas in Hampshire or the Isle of Wight. Individuals are required to carry out a total of 200 hours per year plus training and employers are asked to provide paid leave for some or all of these hours. In most cases patrol areas are relevant to the employer’s industry sector, for example, recruits from the retail industry patrol in high streets and shopping centres.
What Benefits are there for an Employer?
Allowing staff to become Special Constables offers huge benefits to organisations in terms of staff development – benefits that could not be bought commercially. Working on the street as a police officer with the public means making decisions that have an immediate impact on the people they are dealing with so getting decisions right is crucial. People look to police officers for direction in stressful situations and taking charge of incidents give staff confidence and assertiveness which they can take back to their workplace. The whole experience rapidly develops staff in various ways making them more effective at work.
At the heart of the Special Constabulary training package are the seven core skills or competencies that every police officer must be proficient in, these are:
- Personal Responsibility
- Problem Solving
- Effective Communication
- Customer Focus
- Teamwork
- Resilience
- Respect for Diversity
These are transferable skills which they will be able to put to use, not only in their professional capacity, but also in their personal life.
Other benefits an employer can gain from supporting their staff to become Specials Constables include:
- It’s an active and innovative way for organisations and the police to work proactively together – this positive publicity can be incredibly powerful for all concerned in showing commitment to all staff – and the public.
- Police trained and empowered staff working on your business premises, doing their usual ‘day job’ when not on duty with Hampshire Constabulary – reassurance and a real presence.
- Staff able to assess difficult situations which arise in the ‘day job’ through their legal training and practical experience.
- An increased, dedicated police presence in areas local, or relevant, to the organisation or industry creating a safer environment.
- An increase in productivity of the rest of the team through a greater sense of security.
- Key ‘marketable’ enhancement of Corporate Social Responsibility for any business.
- Forging corporate and personal links with the local police and an increase in the ability to tackle local problems with local officers.
- Having members of staff who are properly briefed in respect of local crime trends.
What Benefits are there for an Individual?
- Communicating and negotiating effectively
- Staying calm under pressure
- Problem Solving
- Decision making
- Team building
- Leadership and Management
- Responsibility
We will train you to be confident to deal with any situation you are likely to come across and you'll also learn a whole new range of skills that could also improve your job prospects.
Whilst you are on duty you will see how the job is done at the sharp end of policing. You will make your contribution and gain confidence and experience to the extent that dealing with certain situation becomes second nature.
During the first year you will be expected to complete a series of core tasks which will enable you to undertake independent duties. You will feel rewarded that you have been able to help people in need and the officers you work with who will make you feel part of the police family will appreciate your presence.
How can an Employer get Involved in the Scheme?
There are two main ways for staff to be recruited as ESP Special Constables. These methods work best together.
- Internal recruitment, with the support of Hampshire Constabulary
Your organisation signs up to a written Memorandum of Understanding (this is not a formal contract) with a member of the ESP team and then nominates an ESP Co-ordinator to act as a central point of contact who is responsible for driving awareness and the recruitment process. Your ESP Co-ordinator can combine the information packs we provide with your marketing ideas, preferred channels and HR Department’s input to create the most powerful awareness campaign for your staff.
Hampshire Constabulary provides a postal application system, we also provide staff and line management information packs, and we can also run open recruitment days on your premises for interested staff.
Hampshire Constabulary handles all applications through every step of the selection process including interviews, fitness and medical testing, vetting and more. All the organisation has to do is actively market the scheme to staff and managers and then support staff through the application process and when on duty part time.
- Exisitng Special Constables
You may find that you have existing Special Constables working for you who could benefit from carrying out their duties as part of ESP. Any such person may currently work as a Special Constable in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight or a surrounding force. If they are Hampshire Special Constables they could quickly be brought within the scheme. Individual circumstances would be considered for any non-Hampshire current Special Constables but their training and induction would be significantly easier.
Checking for existing Specials should not be discounted.
View or download the Employer Supported Policing video by clicking here.
For more information regarding this scheme please contact:
Jenni Eustace
Special Constabulary Co-ordinator
Hampshire Constabulary
Support and Training Headquarters
Hamble Lane
Hamble
Southampton
Hampshire
SO31 4TS
Tel: 023 8074 5332
