ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the types of individuals who choose to volunteer for the Special Constabulary. After providing some historical context around the development of the Special Constabulary, including the types of individuals more likely to be selected for such work, the chapter then draws on previously published statistics to chart the overall headcount of the volunteer police service. The remainder of the chapter is devoted to considering the membership profile of the Special Constabulary, primarily using official statistics published by the Home Office. The chapter challenges the notion that the Special Constabulary is both more representative of the general population it serves and more diverse than the regular service. The final section of this chapter considers some of the possible implications of membership diversity for the Special Constabulary, such as the relationship between volunteers in policing, the local community and the wider police service.
