Special beginnings
An explorative study of the early career experiences of volunteer special constables
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21372272 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Iain Britton (0000-0002-9191-0610, Institute for Public Safety Crime and Justice, University of Northampton, Northampton, UK, corresponding author), MATTHEW CALLENDER (0000-0003-1843-2234, Institute for Public Safety Crime and Justice, University of Northampton, Northampton, UK), Lois Farquharson (0000-0001-7493-8403, Bournemouth University Business School, Bournemouth, UK) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 96 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 611-625 |
| Publication date | 2023-12-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Police Journal Theory Practice and Principles (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0032-258X • E-ISSN: 1740-5599 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258x221109466 |
| OpenAlex | W4283024179 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 18 |
The paper reports on a study of the early career experiences of voluntary Special Constables. The research identified the importance of practising, becoming and belonging for volunteers during initial training. Significant challenges in their early front-line practice were experienced alongside problems of processes, management, and organisation, and cultural challenges in terms of ‘fitting in’ and building relationships. The paper argues for the need to further professionalise police force approaches to new Special Constables and the need to shift away from a ‘finding their own way’ paradigm for new volunteer officers towards a structured, unified pathway of development
Front line · Medical education · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Volunteer · Applied Psychology · Law · Medicine · Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering · Policing Practices and Perceptions · Psychology · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts
The Training of Uniformed Police Volunteers to Utilize Evidence-Based Policing
Women in Volunteer Policing
What Is and Is Not Known About Volunteer Policing Across Europe? Comparative Perspectives on Volunteer Police Roles and Practice
Civilian Participation in Public Safety
Careers as Social-Symbolic Work
| Citations per year | 2.5 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2024 - 2026 (3) |
| Highly cited | No |