Volunteers Week – meet the cadet who is training to become a special constable

One minute they’re leading ordinary lives – going to work, looking after their kids, doing the shopping – the next they’re out on the streets tackling crime and locking up offenders.  

No, we’re not talking about superheroes – we’re talking about Humberside Police special constabulary!

Humberside Police special officers are volunteers that choose to give their spare time to helping make the streets across the region safer.

They have the same powers as a police officer, wear the same uniform and carry the same equipment, the only difference is that they do it in a voluntary role.

They have special officers working in all different departments across the force, from helping keep revellers safe to policing the area’s roads.

This national #VolunteersWeek, and throughout the month of June, Humberside Police will be sharing a series of articles to celebrate their special constabulary and show that there is no one type of person that makes a good special officer.

Firstly they spoke to former police cadet Corey who is currently training to be a special constable.

Q: Hi Corey, firstly tell me a bit about your time as a cadet? A: “In the cadets, I’ve enjoyed getting a better insight into the structure of the police and the different departments.

“For example we recently had the dog section give a talk at one of our sessions about how they work. They also did some demonstrations so we could see the dogs in action.

“Being a cadet has helped me understand that the police service is more than just officers on the beat, there are a whole range of different teams working together to keep our area safe.  

“I also enjoyed being involved in community events such as Hull Pride and Hull Fair.”

Q: With cadets and your training to become a special constable you must be pretty busy, what else do you like to get up to in your spare time?

A: “I was also a Hull UK City of Culture volunteer in 2017 and continue to support the company helping out at events throughout the year.

“Other than that I suppose my biggest passions are going to live music events and travelling.”

Q: So the special constabulary, how long have you been training and what made you want to join in the first place?

A:”I applied to become a special constable last year and started my training in January.

“I really enjoyed the experience of being a cadet – learning more about the world of policing and being an active member of my community at events.
“I suppose I wasn’t ready for that part of my life to end and becoming a special officer seemed like the ideal next step.

“The training has been pretty intense but I have really enjoyed it. I’ve loved meeting and getting to know more people at Humberside Police and I’ve already been made to feel a valued member of the police family.

Q: Sounds like you’re really enjoying your training, tell me a bit about what it has involved so far?

A: “So far we’ve been trained in first aid, officer safety, stop and search, making an arrest, taking a statement and traffic offences.

“There’s a good balance of classroom based learning and practical lessons which has kept it really interesting.

“Even just through the training I feel like I’ve already learnt so much more about policing and I am so excited to start building on what I’ve learnt so far and putting it into practice.

Q: How do you manage to balance volunteering with everything else going on in your life?

“The training for special officers generally takes place on weekends so it fits in really nicely around my studying and college commitments.

“As a special constable you are required to commit a minimum of 16 hours per month to policing duties, which when you break it down is only four hours a week.

“I know a lot of special officers do their duties on an evening or weekend which is what I plan to do once I have finished my training and am attested.”

Q: And finally Corey, what would you say to someone thinking about joining the force as a volunteer either as a cadet or a special officer?

A: “For anyone that is thinking of becoming a cadet, I’d strongly advise that you’d give it a go as you gain valuable insight into the police.

“For those that are thinking about becoming a special constable all I can say it is one of the best decisions, I’ve ever made!”

If you dreamed of being a police officer but have taken a different path in life, maybe the special constabulary is the place for you.

If you are interested in becoming a special constable and feel it could add something extra to your life visit: https://www.wearehumbersidespecials.co.uk/home

If you are aged 15-18 and would like to know more about being a police cadet visit: https://www.humberside.police.uk/police-cadets and follow @HP_LifestyleYET on Twitter.