ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the reasons why individuals choose to volunteer for the Special Constabulary. It begins by considering some of the different perspectives used to understand volunteer motivation, before identifying and discussing some of the most dominant reasons given by special constables in previous research. Here findings from the literature are divided into three sections: career driven motives and an interest in police work; other self-orientated motives; and finally those which are more altruistic or other-orientated. The chapter also seeks to update existing research on Special Constabulary motivation by introducing findings from a previously unpublished online survey delivered across two forces.