ABSTRACT
This chapter considers international perspectives on volunteer policing. In particular, the chapter compares and contrasts Special Constabularies in the United Kingdom with reserve and auxiliary police units in the United States. After setting out differences in the origins of volunteer policing in the two counties comparisons are made on the basis of the rationale for establishing reserve and auxiliary programmes, motivation to volunteer, characteristics of volunteers, the recruitment and training of reserve officers, the size and structure of reserve units, the duties performed and hours worked by the volunteer officers and the degree of centralisation and standardisation of volunteer officer activity.
