Special Constables

Age

To apply for the role of police constable, you will need to be aged 17 years or over (will only be appointed at the age of 18).

Tattoos/Piercings

Candidates with visible tattoos, body piercing or other body modifications may be considered eligible for appointment if the force considers that the individual case does not breach the Code of Conduct or constitute a risk to the health and safety of the staff and officers.

Candidates with visible tattoos may be eligible for appointment. Each case will be considered on its own merits, taking into account the number, nature, size, prominence, appearance, and location of the tattoos. Tattoos must not be offensive to colleagues or members of the public or undermine the dignity of your role within the Force. Tattoos on the neck, face or hands are still deemed to be unacceptable but consideration may be given in some circumstances considering the size, nature, and prominence of the tattoo. If candidates choose to have any additional tattoos during the recruitment process, after passing eligibility checks, the onus is on them to advise HR and provide appropriate photographs which will need to be checked. 

Citizenship 

You must be a British Citizen, citizen from the European Economic Area (EEA), Commonwealth citizen or foreign national with no restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom.

Residency

You must have been continually resident in the UK for the three-year period immediately before an application is made. This is to satisfy the requirement to vet all applicants in an equitable manner and the UK Police service does not currently have any means of facilitating vetting checks overseas, to the extent required of those who have been resident in the UK. Applicants who cannot be vetted, cannot be appointed.

Cautions and Convictions

You may still be eligible to join the police service if you have minor convictions/cautions, but there are certain offences and conditions that will make you ineligible. You MUST declare all convictions for past offences, formal cautions (including as a juvenile) and any bind-over imposed by the courts. You should also include all traffic convictions. Due to the nature of policing, it’s essential that we conduct rigorous vetting checks on successful applicants before they can join the program.

Financial Status

All applicants will have their financial status checked. These checks are carried out because Police Constables have access to privileged information, which may make them vulnerable to corruption. Any applicants with outstanding County Court judgements, who have been registered bankrupt with outstanding debts, will be rejected. If you have discharged bankruptcy debts, then you will need to provide a Certificate of Satisfaction with your application. Applicants who are the subject of a current Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) will not be considered.

Health

Applicants must be in good health mentally and physically to deal with the pressures and demands of the role. Successful applicants who receive a conditional offer of appointment will then be asked prior to appointment to fill in a medical questionnaire and undertake a medical examination which will also include an eyesight test and BMI check (Body Mass Index).

Political Affiliation

Dyfed-Powys Police has a policy of prohibiting any of our officers or staff from being members of the BNP, or a similar organisation whose aims, objectives or pronouncements may contradict the duty to promote race equality. If you are or have previously been a member of the BNP or a similar organisation, your application will be rejected.

Driving Licence

You do need to hold a full manual driving licence to be eligible to apply for the role of special constable.

BMI 

If your application is successful, your weight range will be assessed during a medical assessment. The healthy weight range is based on a measurement known as your body mass index (BMI).

This can be determined if you know your weight and your height. The actual calculation is your weight (in kilograms) divided by your height (in metres squared). Guidance and easy to use charts on how to calculate your BMI can be found on the NHS website. The NHS advises that a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 suggest a normal healthy weight. This means your body is not at risk of weight-related disease. The Home Office sets BMI standards for police officers. The current Home Office circular 59/2004 outlines this as between 18 and 30. Applicants who do not meet this standard may find their application delayed and / or will not be appointed.

Vetting 

The importance of honesty and integrity is made clear throughout our application process. Dyfed-Powys Police Officers are subject to the Standards of Professional Behaviour, which clearly set out what communities can expect from their officers.

There are a number of jobs that are considered incompatible with the role of a special constable at Dyfed Powys Police. Please check the list below to ensure that your current employment will not prevent your application from proceeding.

You should not make an application to join Dyfed Powys Special Constabulary if you work in any of the below roles:

• serving members of His Majesty's Armed Forces
• members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
• Royal Naval Auxiliary Service
• the National Hospital Service Reserve
• members of the fire service, unless written permission is given by your chief officer
• traffic officers and school crossing patrols
• officers from other police forces and private constabularies
• magistrates
• clerks to justices and clerks to courts
• probation officers
• youth workers and social workers involved in the administration of criminal law
• bailiffs, warrant officers, private detectives and inquiry agents
• detention & escort officers
• security personnel, guards and doormen (see further down this page for exceptions) 
• anyone working for a security company
• employees of security organisations
• neighbourhood and street wardens and other uniformed patrol wardens
• police community support officers
• prison custody officers (prison officers are eligible, but only with written permission from their prison governor)
• a local authority parking warden
• persons taking an active part in politics
• Highways Agency traffic officers (and traffic officers who are employed by other organisations, such as Vehicle and Operators Services Agency)
• border and immigration officers with powers of arrest
• customs officers
• barristers, solicitors and judges
• members of police authorities
• transport network revenue protection inspectors
• local authority field officers, for example, trading standards officers
• civilian enforcement officers
• vehicle removal officers

There are no formal educational requirements, you do not need any qualifications to apply. 

Please note the recruitment cycle can typically take at least 6 months to fully complete. Further information on each stage of the application/recruitment process can be found further down the page.

• Online Application Form
• Force Interview
• Pre-employment Checks
• Successful appointment

At the end of each stage of the recruitment and selection process you will be notified whether you have been successful and therefore eligible to proceed to the next stage.

To know if you would be a good Constable, have a look at some of our values and see if they sound like you, as they govern how we serve in our area:

Accountability: We strive to build trust with the public, colleagues and partners. By being open, honest and taking ownership for our actions. We aim to learn from our mistakes and build from them.

Fairness: We aim to be fair and equal to everyone we come across. It is very important to treat everyone with dignity, respect and fairness.

Selflessness: We become selfless, putting the needs of individuals in our community before our own and never hesitating to protect others from harm.

As a Special Constable in Dyfed-Powys Police, you will be a valued and supported member of the wider policing family.

You will learn new skills, see new things and make real differences to the lives of our communities.

Volunteers for the Special Constabulary come from a diverse range of backgrounds and communities. You may be at home, caring for family, or driving a career in a very different industry. The variety of experience held across the Special Constabulary supports the police service and aims to represent the communities they serve.

As a Special Constable you’ll be on the front line of policing, you’ll be one of the first faces that people see when they need us most. No two days will be the same, some things you’ll be involved in are:

• responding to incidents and calls for help from the public
• speaking to victims of crime, making sure they get the best possible service
• recording and investigating crime
• making arrests, interviewing suspects, and taking statements from witnesses
• searching for missing people
• giving evidence in court
• policing large public events, concerts, and demonstrations
• dealing with road traffic collisions and offences
• carrying out proactive patrols to assist with problem solving

FAQ's

How physically fit do I need to be?

You do not need to be any fitter than the average healthy person. All Specials are required to undertake mandatory fitness testing as part of the application process and then annually from when they finish training. This involves a shuttle run to level 5/4 (bleep test).

Each time you put on your uniform and book on duty, you’ll be learning something new. But you will also:

• Increase your circle of friends, you will meet a wide variety of people.
• Gain confidence by overcoming fresh challenges and opportunities.
• Develop team working and problem solving skills.
• Learn to physically defend yourself and deal with conflict.
• Gain a good understanding about our area and, help keep the communities of Dyfed-Powys safe.
• Get a real feeling of achievement at having done something to help others, whilst supporting regular officers and contributing to your local community.
• Take on a challenge where no two days will ever be the same

Joining the Special Constabulary opens up a world of opportunities for personal and professional development. Undergoing the training and then going out on patrol makes a welcome break from day-to-day life, bringing excitement and challenge every day you volunteer, and giving something special back to the community we’re all part of.

Employer Supported Policing (ESP) is a national scheme owned by the home office. It is a partnership benefitting employers, their staff and the police service by releasing Special Constables and Police Support Volunteers to volunteer in the communities they serve. The ESP scheme increases the diversity of knowledge within a workforce, offers a rewarding scheme to participate in, as well as supporting the ethical, social and community aim of many organisations. Special Constables are vital to Police Forces, coming from all walks of life and volunteering their free time to help others and serve local communities.

To learn more about Employer Supported Policing, please visit our page here.