Exploring Strategic Perspectives on the Special Constabulary

Matthew Callender; Iain Britton; Laura Knight

doi:10.1177/0032258X211028272

Exploring Strategic Perspectives on the Special Constabulary

Matthew Callender
, Iain Britton
, Laura Knight

Institute for Public Safety, Crime & Justice

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This article explores senior and strategic perspectives on the volunteer Special Constabulary in England and Wales, based on 38 interviews with senior police leaders. The strategic context and leadership of Special Constabularies represents an overlooked element of police leadership, given the scale and potential of volunteer officers to impact upon policing delivery and reform. The paper identifies tension between a traditional strategic paradigm that frames bounded expectations of the role of Special Constables, emphasising differences between them and their paid counterparts, and considerations of police reform which prompt different thinking in respect of practice, identity and integration of volunteer officers.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	691-712
Number of pages	22
Journal	The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles
Volume	95
Issue number	4
Early online date	30 Jun 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X211028272
Publication status	Published - 30 Jun 2021

Bibliographical note

No embargo - AAM can be made available as soon as it's published

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

Articles
Special Constabulary
police leadership
police reform

Access to Document

10.1177/0032258X211028272Licence: CC BY

Callender_etal_PoliceJournal_2021_Exploring_Strategic_Perspectives_on_the_Special_ConstabularyAccepted author manuscript, 360 KBLicence: Unspecified
Callender_etal_PoliceJournal_2021_Exploring_Strategic_Perspectives_on_the_Special_Constabulary_PublFinal published version, 193 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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Exploring Strategic Perspectives on the Special Constabulary

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this