The Special Constable can claim to be a direct descendant of the earliest-known English police officer. In Saxon days every freeman was bound by an oath known as the "frank pledge", to assist in preserving the peace and repressing crime.

It is still the duty of every person to help in keeping the peace and, under Common Law, these duties extend to arresting those who have been seen to commit crime.

In due course, over many years, the police work which had to be performed by the freeman devolved to the constable who, before the modern professional police officer came into being, was a local man appointed every year to carry out police duties in his parish under the order of the justices.

When the time came for the able-bodied men of the parish to do their year's duty as parish constable, it became normal procedure for them to pay other men to carry out the duties for them. Such were the first professional police constables.

When additional police assistance was required it was customary for the justices to appoint Special Constables. These were residents who were sworn in as constables for special occasions and for such occasions they had all the powers of constables.

The first statutory power to appoint Special Constables was provided in the Special Constables' Act of 1831, and this was followed by the Parish Constables' Acts of 1842 and 1872 and the Municipal Corporations Act of 1882.

Penalties were provided under these acts for refusing to take the oath and for refusing to serve after the Special Constable had been appointed.

Throughout the 19th century and early part of the 20th century the role of the Special Constable developed into a body of permanently-trained reserves. The Special Constables Order, 1923, put the appointment and control of Special Constables firmly in the hands of local Chief Officers of Police and gave local Police Authorities responsibility for funding their expenses, allowances and maintenance.

By the early 1930s, organised practical training for Special Constables was being encouraged and "Specials" were beginning to be attached to areas for use in ordinary police duties. Some constabularies at this time required their Special Constables to sign a three-year contract.

As a result of the Second World War, changes were necessary due to the shortage of male officers and the high proportion of female interest. This saw the very first women recruited as Special Constables. These changes were consolidated by the Police Act 1964 which rationalised policing structures and administration.

Today Special Constables are appointed by the Chief Constable under power granted by Section 16 of the Police Act 1964 in accordance with the Special Constables Regulations 1965 (soon to be revised).

 

If you would like any further information about the role of a Police Special, please contact Sue Goode by telephoning 101 and asking for the Special Constabulary or by emailing stepspecials@norfolk.pnn.police.uk or check out the Police Could You website.