Changing motivations of the special constable: a qualitative analysis of the role of organisational experience in retaining satisfaction and commitment

ABSTRACT

In a climate of diminishing resources, securing a prolonged commitment to volunteer from special constables is an aspirational goal for police organisations. This paper moves beyond traditional egoistic and altruistic standpoints that draw people into this unpaid role, to consider ongoing decision-making processes that occur in post, which can shape a long-term career path as an unpaid volunteer special constable. Rich narratives, drawn from semi-structured interviews with volunteer special constables, capture a unique and original perspective largely absent from discussion around special constable motivation. Data and findings speak to important gaps in existing knowledge about how and why orientations to volunteering can change over the duration of a special constable’s service, resulting from organisational rather than policing experiences. Findings serve as a timely reminder that while it is important to develop deeper understandings of motives to becoming a special, so too is the significance of furthering knowledge on ways in which the experience of being a special constable within the police organisation can work to sustain commitment, motivation and thus encourage retention.

KEYWORDS:

• Special constable
• motivation
• commitment
• reorientation
• organisational experience

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the anonymous reviewers for their supportive and constructive comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 A phrase used in British slang for being pleased or even delighted.

2 Informal term for speaking up on the radio.

3 Safeguarding relates to an increasingly important police responsibility to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm. Specialist divisions, including Multi-agency Safeguarding Hubs, have been established to devote resources to this priority area. For a discussion on the growing significance of vulnerability and safeguarding to policing, please see Asquith et al. (2017).

4 Whilst not corroborated by other Specials, Special A5 is alluding here that Specials aspire to engage in traffic enforcement and high-speed car chases associated with traffic duties.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS) Research Centre at the University of Sunderland.