Special Constabulary guidance
Special Constabulary guidance for re-joiners, transferees and former Police Officers.
You can transfer to Avon and Somerset from another force as a special constable without a break in service.
However, transferees from non-Home Office forces will be required to apply as new recruits, but training skills analysis will take into consideration your previous experience and training.
You can apply to rejoin us as a special constable if you:
- resigned or retired as a special constable within the last five years (this can be extended in exceptional circumstances)
- were formerly a police officer
Recruitment process
You can express an interest in joining at any time by contacting our Talent Acquisition team.
You must successfully complete the following stages of the recruitment process:
- application form – you will not need to complete the competency based questions if you left your previous force within the last five years
- physical Assessment
- medical
- drugs Testing
- biometric Vetting
- vetting
- interview – your previous service record will be requested and may be discussed
- professional Standards checks
As part of the selection process we will conduct a training needs analysis with you.
Successful candidates
If you are successful at interview, a personal development plan will be prepared and training needs will be assessed to get you back to an operational status. In most cases the full initial learning programme will not be necessary.
You will be attested as a special constable and issued with a collar number.
Rank
Consideration will be given as to whether you will be deployed at the same rank you previously held. However, while the skills and knowledge you gained are important, they do not necessarily equate to a direct link to the rank and you should not presume you will be appointed as such.
Postings
You will be posted based on your previous skills, experience and home location.
Where possible, if you request a specific posting, you will be allocated that patrol base unless there is any reason why that posting is not appropriate.
Ready to join us?
You can express an interest in joining at any time by contacting our Talent Acquisition team.