26 replies to this topic

[Giraffe]

Assuming you've read through this site, you probably already have a good idea of what being a Special Constable entails. This thread should give you a general idea of the process, and approximate timescales, to becoming a fully warranted Special Constable with Surrey Police. For obvious reasons we cannot give the full details of the written exam, or the Assessment Centre exercises, as that would be cheating! No details will be given here that are not in the public domain already, or that will be given to you when you apply.

First thing's first, please look at our list of Ineligible Occupations - this details jobs which will prohibit you from becoming a Special Constable, as well as occupations that may require authorisation from your employer and / or need to be approved by the Chief Officer:

 Ineligible_Occupations_as_a_Special_Constable.pdf   16.69K   23 downloads

Other things to bear in mind also are tattoos - tattoos are not automatically a bar on joining, but if you have tattoos you may be requested to supply a photograph of them during the application process. I'm sorry but if you have the local pizza parlour's number tattooed backwards across your forehead you will not be able to apply.

Also of note is the distance you live from Surrey - if you live more than twelve miles beyond the Surrey border this could also make you ineligible - if you are concerned about this please call the Special Constabulary office on 0800 328 7597 who will be able to advise you.

Assuming that's all in order - you've had the tattoo lasered off your forehead and sold your Tottenham three bed pad for a shed in Godalming, then you are good to go! Here's the application form...

 Surrey_Special_Constable_Application_Form.pdf   84.68K   18 downloads

You will notice that it's very short - don't worry, if you pass the assessment that's when you will be given war and peace to complete (more on that later).

A few weeks after submitting this form you should receive an invitation to attend a written exam. This will be carried out on a weeknight at Police HQ at Mount Browne, just on the outskirts of Guildford. In addition to the exam, you will also be shown a video of the work carried out by Specials in Surrey, as well as a talk from the Specials' top brass.

Please take time to prepare for the written - it is not a case of scrawling a few sentences together. Currently around two thirds of applicants are failing the written, which then means a delay of around 6 months (variable, dependent on your score) before you can reapply. The written exercise lasts for 20 minutes, and you will be given all the information required prior to sitting it. It is very similar to the written that regular applicants sit, but there is one exercise instead of two (the scenarios are different of course, for obvious reasons). Please do not get this confused with the PIRT - the PIRT is not a part of the application process for Surrey.

If successful, you will be invited back for the main assessment centre. This lasts around half a day, and takes place on a Sunday (you will be invited to a morning or afternoon session, as we run up to two assessment centres each time). During the assessment centre you will take part in a three minute verbal Autobiography - you will be given some information on this prior to attending. There are then two group exercises and one more solo exercise. Details of these exercises are given to you on the day.

Prior to leaving you will be told whether or not you have been successful (so no horrible wait for the postie!).

Assuming you are invited to a morning assessment, you will take part in the fitness test last. If you have an afternoon assessment, the fitness will be the first stage of the day. If you fail the fitness you will be invited back to re-take it - it is treated completely separately to the rest of the assessment centre process so don't worry! It is advised to make the effort to pass first time, and luckily Surrey Police have produced the following handy guide for prospective Specials' fitness:

 Fitness-booklet.pdf   171.22K   24 downloads

If you are one of our lovely Power Users, you can download the beep test here, so you can practice in your local park to your heart's content! If you are not a Power User, visit this link for all the other added benefits and details of how to sign up!

If you've been successful, you will then be given a series of forms to fill in. These include a medical questionnaire, a security (vetting) questionnaire and a more detailed and formal application form - don't worry, as long as there are no skeletons in your closet these forms are just a formality. The majority of applicants who get to this stage do go on to become Special Constables.

At the time of writing the approximate waiting time between assessment and commencement of training is about four months. The training itself lasts approximately 18 weeks, and is a combination of evenings (once a week) and a number of weekends. Generally the weeknight training is law based, whilst the weekends consists of conflict training (CS, Baton, etc), first aid and role-play based training.

Towards the end of your training will be your attestation. This is the evening when you are sworn in as a police officer in front of a magistrate and given your warrant card! It is also the first time you will wear your uniform with your collar number on display (you have nice 'training' epaulettes until this point ). You get to bring your family and friends, have your piccie taken and also will meet a supervisor from your new borough, before getting to scoff your face with sandwiches and chicken satay sticks...

From here you will complete any last little bits of training left, before heading to your new station. You will be given a PDP (Personal Development Portfolio), which takes on average about 12 - 18 months to complete. This booklet contains a number of essential areas that you must be proficient in before you will be considered for independent patrol. Once you reach this stage you can work on your own, take out newer Specials, take a police driving course (no pursuits / blue light runs, but you do get to pull over vehicles), and in time apply for promotion to Special Sergeant if you wish.

Being a Special isn't all about making juicy arrests and blue light runs. You are applying for a job which can be very difficult and challenging and occasionally dangerous. You will be given all the support you need, but consider when applying how much of your spare time it will take up, and whether you have that time to commit for no financial reward. After the initial training there is a commitment of at least 16 hours per month, although in reality it's recommended that you try to do more whilst you are in your probation to maintain the skills and knowledge that you have acquired, and to build on them.

If you apply good luck - hopefully it will be the start of a long and prosperous career.

See also: Surrey Police website page for Specials recruitment

[Chuckster]

My god, you must've been bored!

[abdesignuk]

16 hour commitment depends on how your borough operates, as mine is different, and i'd be lucky to get 16hours at the moment

[Giraffe]

16 hour commitment depends on how your borough operates, as mine is different, and i'd be lucky to get 16hours at the moment

Force policy is sixteen hours, and if your borough doesn't adhere to it then that's more of a local issue as you say. We had Specials on my borough that weren't doing the minimum, so a couple of weeks ago an e-mail was sent out advising that it would be enforced from October. It's not a lot to get 16 hours in, but as I understand it (from what others have told me) there are certain boroughs that make it difficult for their Specials to get shifts to actually work. If they are going to tell new SCs that there is no one available to accommodate them, as well as the 'how will they reach their hours' argument, there is also the 'how are they supposed to learn anything' argument as well.

The problem is if you put in (or retain) draconian measures such as having to give several weeks notice prior to working a duty and then cancelling them at short notice, you are making it difficult for SCs to work and actually hit their 16 hours.

On my borough SCs have until the Wednesday evening to book on dutysheet for that weekends duties. Those details are then e-mailed to the borough Sgts, and the crewing etc is then worked out. It's extremely rare for an SC to then have a duty cancelled (so rare in fact that I don't think it's happened in the last twelve months).

[askdave]

Just one itsy bitsy thing!
On Western Cluster, after attestation, a new SC goes onto the street skills section. Here they will 'acquire' a basic level of public interaction and other such useful skills prior to posting to their respective boroughs.

16 hour commitment depends on how your borough operates, as mine is different, and i'd be lucky to get 16hours at the moment

I've heard this before on Western. I usually book duties in advance with some short notice. However I have always maintained, regardless of what station someone is working from, that a non IP officer is always welcome to crew with me.

There should be a code to input on dutysheet which will display your availability for 'tutoring' of non IP officers.

If anyone on Western wants my details to look out for my duties, pm me.

[Giraffe]

Just one itsy bitsy thing!
On Western Cluster, after attestation, a new SC goes onto the street skills section. Here they will 'acquire' a basic level of public interaction and other such useful skills prior to posting to their respective boroughs.

That sounds quite interesting. On Northern we didn't have anything of that nature, but recently I came up with 'development evenings' to go over some of the bread and butter basics with them, but they may have already completed a few duties prior to that. Are you going to the attestation on Wednesday? If you are I'd be quite keen to hear about your system to see if we can implement something similar on my patch.

[askdave]

That sounds quite interesting. On Northern we didn't have anything of that nature, but recently I came up with 'development evenings' to go over some of the bread and butter basics with them, but they may have already completed a few duties prior to that. Are you going to the attestation on Wednesday? If you are I'd be quite keen to hear about your system to see if we can implement something similar on my patch.

I'm afraid I'm not going on Wednesday as there are no officers bound for my borough. I will be at the assessment on Sunday though!

[Giraffe]

I'm afraid I'm not going on Wednesday as there are no officers bound for my borough. I will be at the assessment on Sunday though!

Aah cool, I'll catch up with you then.

[Markdn]

If I was a Mod I would be giving this thread a "top Thread" award, but alas I am not a mod so have a +1 rep instead

[Giraffe]

If I was a Mod I would be giving this thread a "top Thread" award, but alas I am not a mod so have a +1 rep instead

Thanks Mark!

**Slips Mark a crisp £10 note**

[azza]

Hi,

I have my initial evening test next week, but have not been sent any information other thant the Intro pack, Directions and a form to fill in.

Do i need to chase for the other information for the assesment?

[Giraffe]

Hi,

I have my initial evening test next week, but have not been sent any information other thant the Intro pack, Directions and a form to fill in.

Do i need to chase for the other information for the assesment?

I think you are given all the information you will need on the evening, but if you're not sure if you give the Special's Office a call I'm sure they will be able to advise you. Good luck!

[Rooster1]

Hi,

I have my initial evening test next week, but have not been sent any information other thant the Intro pack, Directions and a form to fill in.

Do i need to chase for the other information for the assesment?

I remember from my first assessment that you get all the material you need when you arrive. Just make sure you take plenty of pens, pencils with you, dress smart, and take your brain, it is hard!

[Giraffe]

and take your brain, it is hard!

Indeed - about 75% of candidates don't pass it.

[Rooster1]

Indeed - about 75% of candidates don't pass it.

I would know! Last time I ended up in that 75%!

[yohansen]

No PIRT for Surrey?
Does that mean no role playing or competency based interview?

I begin assessment in 2 weeks so I would appreciate the info

[Rooster1]

No PIRT for Surrey?
Does that mean no role playing or competency based interview?

I begin assessment in 2 weeks so I would appreciate the info

Hi mate!

You are indeed correct! no PIRT. We have a similar assessment centre that may or may not include role playing / competency based interviews I can't give the game away!

Good luck with your assessments, and congratulations on getting this far! The one bit of advice I would give you is enjoy yourself, it is stressful when you are there but everyones feeling the same. Just relax and think about anything they throw at you with a clear head.

Keep us in the loop of how it all goes! would be very interested to know!

Also feel free to pop into the The Chit and Chat Thread!

[yohansen]

Hi mate!

You are indeed correct! no PIRT. We have a similar assessment centre that may or may not include role playing / competency based interviews I can't give the game away!

Good luck with your assessments, and congratulations on getting this far! The one bit of advice I would give you is enjoy yourself, it is stressful when you are there but everyones feeling the same. Just relax and think about anything they throw at you with a clear head.

Keep us in the loop of how it all goes! would be very interested to know!

Also feel free to pop into the The Chit and Chat Thread!

Thanks for the response Rooster1!

Looks like I will continue with role playing & interview prep then. I would take a punt that the group exercises are role playing & the solo is an interview

Speak soon...

[Rachyp1]

Thanks for the response Rooster1!

Looks like I will continue with role playing & interview prep then. I would take a punt that the group exercises are role playing & the solo is an interview

Speak soon...

Keep calm, relaxed and above all enjoy

Good luck

[Markdn]

I'm going to an assessment centre soon, February I think - might see you there

[surrey_special]

Going for the written test on 13th Feb. Have read everything on this thread and many other sites....The fact that very little is known about this test makes me very nervous.

Any other forum members have the test on this day?

[Giraffe]

Going for the written test on 13th Feb. Have read everything on this thread and many other sites....The fact that very little is known about this test makes me very nervous.

Any other forum members have the test on this day?

Try looking for books on the police written (not PIRT obviously) from any well known bookstore. That will give you a good idea of the format and will help you prepare. Good luck!

[surrey_special]

Try looking for books on the police written (not PIRT obviously) from any well known bookstore. That will give you a good idea of the format and will help you prepare. Good luck!

Received written exam results today. Didn't make it Can reapply after three months

Edited by surrey_special, 20 February 2012 - 10:57 PM.

[Rooster1]

1329777065[/url]' post='2203911']
Received written exam results today. Didn't make it Can reapply after three months

An no! I know how you feel!! Happened to me November 2010 I had to wait 6 months, reapplied as soon as I could and now I'm a few weeks away from Attestation! Keep at it!

[Giraffe]

Received written exam results today. Didn't make it Can reapply after three months

Sorry to hear that mate. The fact you only have a three month wait means that you wouldn't have been far off a pass mark. Lots of applicants don't make it through first time round (myself included - I got knocked back twice). Do you intend to re-apply? Three months will pass in no time.