Women in Volunteer Policing
Exploring the Experiences and Perspectives of Female Special Constables in England and Wales
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22416717 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ashley Frayling (University of Exeter), Iain Britton (0000-0002-9191-0610, University of Northampton) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-23 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Criminal Justice Policy Review (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0887-4034 • E-ISSN: 1552-3586 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/08874034261457894 |
| OpenAlex | W7165657969 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 55 |
This research paper examines experiences of female part-time volunteer police – Special Constables – across several different police forces in England and Wales, exploring gendered experiences in part-time volunteer policing in terms of accessibility, inclusion, engagement, and professional development. Interviews with female volunteer police reveal gendered constructions of volunteer policing roles, careers, status, and value. Within a male-centric and a “regular” paid-service officer-centric policing milieu, female Special Constables reflect a complex, contested professional space and professional identities. Findings highlight challenges of “fitting in” to policing and of “being fit for” the volunteer officer role. Substantial, and distinct, career barriers link to gendered differences in time availability and care responsibilities, life events, maternity, and parenthood. Particularly within leadership and specialisation pathways, there are constraints to female volunteer officer career progression. The study points to a need for fundamental institutional adaptation, to foster a model of gender-equitable participation within the volunteer police.
Officer · Qualitative research · Volunteer · Gender, Security, and Conflict · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Policing Practices and Perceptions
Police Culture in a Changing World
Gendered institutions and gender roles
Stuck on a Plateau?
“Difference” in the Police Department
Policewomen’s perceptions of occupational culture in the changing policing environment of England and Wales
Exploring strategic perspectives on the Special Constabulary
Special beginnings
Navigating the police promotion system
Physical agility tests and fitness standards
A police service in transformation
Male Peer Support and the Police Culture
The Prevalence of Female Representation in Supervisory and Management Positions in American Law Enforcement
Power and Organizations
Deconstructing Difference
Disrupting the “Heroic” Male Within Policing
Who Dreams of Badges? Gendered Self-Concept and Policing Career Aspirations
Women in Power? Examining Gender and Promotion in Policing Through an Organizational Perspective
Policewomen or PoliceWomen
Policewomen’s Perceptions of Gender Equity Policies and Initiatives in Australia
Re-theorizing the progress of women in policing
Women-led police stations
Theorising the police support volunteer experience in an English constabulary
Implications of police occupational culture in discriminatory experiences of senior women in police forces in England and Wales
Doing” Police Leadership
Police volunteers in the Netherlands
On matters of balance
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Mapping the Margins
From Sex Roles to Gendered Institutions
There Oughtta Be a Law Against Bitches
Hierarchies, Jobs, Bodies
Power and Subjectivity at Work
Gender Differences in Restricting Work Efforts Because of Family Responsibilities
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |