Our Special Constables are a vital part of the West Midlands Police family, playing an essential role in keeping communities safe and delivering excellent service to the public. They have the same powers, equipment, and uniform as regular Police Officers but volunteer their time. No two shift are the same, you could be making an arrest, supporting a domestic abuse victim, policing a major event, or responding to 999 calls. This is a rewarding and challenging role that allows you to make a real difference, with opportunities to work across various teams, including:
- Response (emergency calls)
- Neighbourhood patrols
- Traffic policing
- Major events
Once trained, you can also complete attachments to specialist departments such as Homicide, Roads Policing, Forensics, and Birmingham Airport, as well as pursue promotion opportunities.
Commitment
- Training period: 10–15 weeks (mainly weekends, mix of face-to-face and online)
- Suggested volunteering: 2 shifts per month to maintain operational competence
Benefits
Although Special Constables are volunteers and not salaried, they can claim out-of-pocket expenses and enjoy a range of benefits, including:
- A comprehensive training plan
- Paid travel expenses
- Opportunities for development and promotion
- Involvement in major policing events
- Attachments to specialist teams
- Access to an excellent benefits platform offering discounts on shopping, electronics, holidays, and more
Who can apply?
You must have:
Level 2 English (Grade C/4 or above)
Only final certificates will be accepted, these must be uploaded with your application. Visit our careers website for more information about the qualifications required for different career routes.
Fitness, Medical & Vetting:
Must meet the bleep test standard of 5.4.
Must pass medical checks, which may include drug and fitness testing.
Must pass our required vetting checks. See our Vetting FAQ for more information.
Residency & Nationality
Lived in the UK for the past three years.
Must be a British, Irish, or EEA national, or have the right to work in the UK without restrictions.
Application Process
Our careers website provides a step by step breakdown of the application process.
Training & Probation – programme combining classroom instruction with extensive frontline experience.
Company
West Midlands Police is the second-largest police force in the country, serving the three major cities of Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton, alongside the districts of Sandwell, Walsall, Solihull, and Dudley.
Against this backdrop, the force handles more than 2,000 emergency calls every day, while patrolling the streets and responding to incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have made significant improvements in reducing overall crime, improving call response times, and increasing arrest rates. This work can only continue with the right people, therefore as an employer of choice, we are looking for the right people who can serve and protect our communities.