SPECIALS SPOTLIGHT A SPECIAL FED REP MEET ANDY,
After many years of campaigning by the PFEW for a legislation change, special constables in England and Wales were able to become members from 2022 with some of them now becoming fully trained Fed reps to support the constabulary
The Special Constabulary was formed in 1831 and its members serve with the same rigor and valour as full-time police officers with special constables (SC) contributing 186,000 hours per month on average. However, they have never had an umbrella organisation representing them and had negligible legal protection until now. After years of campaigning by the
PFEW, SCs were able to join the Federation with the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 coming into force from 30 June 2022. They are now entitled to the same benefits and support as their full-time colleagues. Over the past more than a year PFEW and its branches have been working to ensure forces are compliant with the regulations involving special constables. Special constables play
a vital part in UK’s policing supporting a wide variety of departments including Roads Policing, Criminal Investigation Department, Police Support Units and Force Intelligence Bureaus.
both surprised and privileged at the same time.
“My motivation for putting myself forward as a Workplace Rep in Avon & Somerset (A&S) was to help ensure each of the 232 SCs in A&S had a voice, one that was distinct, and which reflected the unique nature of our volunteering role.
“My journey as a rep is just the beginning but so far everybody has been very supportive – from our Citizens in Policing team, PCC and the senior leadership team. I know all my SC colleagues are very positive and feel much more secure knowing they are fully represented by the Police Federation. Special constables have been around since
“I want to ensure each of the 232 SCs in A&S have a voice, one that is distinct, and which reflects the unique nature of our volunteering role.”
Across the country there is a fantastic team of highly trained reps supporting officers and special constables day in and day out. POLICE is delighted to welcome one of the first-ever SC Fed rep Andy Dollard of Avon and Somerset Constabulary. We caught up with Andy and here is how he described the experience so far: “When I was told that I was one of the first ‘Special’ Fed rep in the country, I was
1831, so it’s a been a long time coming. “Being able to access the same PFEW support and legal assistance (as our full-time colleagues), has brought us a step closer to our full-time colleagues and supports those initiatives already undertaken by different forces to level- up the opportunities between SCs and regular officers. “In October last year, I met with my
fellow reps and Branch Board leadership team at our Branch Council meeting where we heard from PFEW National Treasurer, Simon Kempton, about the work being done at PFEW HQ and how members can contribute to the organisation’s transformation. This really helped put things into perspective and it was reassuring to know that my Branch and PFEW as an organisation is behind me.
“I think being a Special
Constable is just that – ‘special’. It is hugely rewarding but can give
rise to some specific challenges such as juggling between home/family life, volunteering and our paid employment, whilst maintaining the high standards that the public rightly deserve from us.”
Are you a SC and would like to learn more about how to become a PFEW member? Visit:
www.polfed.org/about-us/join-the- fed/special-constables
29 | POLICE | FEBRUARY | 2024
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