Before submitting an application to be a Special Constable with Staffordshire Police, please check that you meet the following eligibility criteria.
Age
You can apply to become a Special Constable at the age of 18.
Nationality
You must be a British citizen, EC/EEA national (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein) or a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national with no restrictions on your stay in the UK.
If you are a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national you should send a copy of your passport which shows that your stay is free of restrictions with your application. Other documentary evidence of your status may be required.
All candidates are required to produce their passports when attending the assessment process.
Residency
You will need to have been resident in the UK for the last three years consecutively.
Membership of the British National Party (BNP) or similar
The police service has a policy of prohibiting any of their officers or police staff from becoming members of the British National Party (BNP) or similar organisation whose aims, objectives or pronouncements may contradict the duty to promote race equality. If you are, or have been a member of the BNP or similar organisation your application may be rejected.
Convictions and cautions: you and your family
Convictions or cautions will not necessarily cause a problem for appointment. It will depend on their nature, the circumstances and when the offence was committed. Failure to disclose convictions or cautions will, however, result in your application form being terminated.
You must declare all convictions or any past offences, formal cautions by the police (including cautions as a juvenile, ie under 18 years) and any bind-overs imposed by any court.
You should include traffic convictions such as speeding, drink-drive offences, fixed penalties for motoring or disorder offences and any appearances before a court martial.
You must declare any charge or summons currently outstanding against you.
You must include spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (by virtue of the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975) or any involvement with civil, military or transport police.
You must declare if you have ever been involved in any criminal investigation whether or not this led to prosecution (either of yourself or others).
Some applicants do not declare information which they believe is no longer held on record. However, our enquiries will reveal historical incidents and failure to disclose these will lead to your application being rejected. If you have any doubts, include the details.
We will also search criminal convictions or cautions recorded against your family, so you should inform them that these enquiries will be made. Due to Data Protection, we will not be able to disclose the results of these enquiries to you.
Tattoos
Tattoos are not a bar to appointment. However, some tattoos could potentially offend members of the public or colleagues, or could bring discredit to the police service. It depends on their size, nature and location, and sometimes on the extent.
If you have tattoos on your face, neck, forearms, or hands, you should describe their nature, words used, extent, size and location.
Tattoos are not acceptable if they:
- undermine the dignity and authority of the office of Constable
- could cause offence to members of the public or colleagues and/or invite provocation
- are garish or numerous or particularly prominent
- indicate unacceptable attitudes towards women, minority groups or any other section of the community
- indicate alignment with a particular group which could give offence to members of the public or colleagues
- are considered to be rude, lewd, crude, racist, sexist, sectarian, homophobic, violent or intimidating.
Medical
We need to ensure that you are in good mental and physical health to carry out the duties of a Special Constable. A medical assessment is part of the recruitment process.
Eyesight standards
The standard you need to meet is:
- Distance vision
- 6/12 or better with either your right or left eye
- 6/6 with both eyes together
- If you wear spectacles or contact lenses you also need to reach 6/36 without your spectacles or lenses.
- Near vision
6/9 with both eyes together (aided)
- Colour vision
The use of colour correcting lenses is not acceptable. Severe colour vision deficiencies, monochromats, are not acceptable. Mild anomalous trichromats are acceptable. Severe anomalous dichromats or trichromats are also acceptable but you will need to be aware of the deficiency and make appropriate adjustments.
- Eye surgery
Radial keratotomy, arcuate keratotomy or corneal grafts are not acceptable.
Height
There are no height restrictions.
Physical fitness
Candidates must pass a fitness assessment.
Qualifications
You don't need any formal qualifications to join the Special Constabulary, but you will have to pass the recruitment process.
Business Interests
Unless the Chief Officer decides otherwise, you will not normally be eligible for appointment as a Special Constable if you have the following business interest:
You, your spouse or any relative living with you holds or has a financial interest in any licence or permit relating to liquor, licensing, refreshment houses or betting and gaming or the regulation of places of entertainment in our force area.
Ineligible Occupations and Activity
Special Constables, like regular police officers, possess the powers and privileges of a Constable even when they are off duty. You cannot be considered for appointment as a Special Constable if there would be a significant chance that this could lead to a conflict of interest, either for yourself or for others, between your obligations as a Special Constable and your effectiveness in your professional life or any other voluntary role you undertake. It is important to minimise the risk that Special Constables might be pressed to abuse their powers off duty.
The following occupations are considered incompatible with the office of Special Constable. This list is NOT exhaustive:
- Members of the armed forces
- Police Authority traffic wardens and school crossing patrols
- Highways Agency Traffic Officers
- Members of employer's police forces and private constabularies
- Neighbourhood and street wardens and other uniformed patrol wardens
- Police Community Support Officers
- Members of police authorities, magistrates, clerks to justices and clerks to courts
• Persons taking an active part in politics
