Timeline

1673: Charles II passes and Act to allow for peace officers to be sworn in to deal with threats of great disorder

1829: Sir Robert Peels enforcement body introduced: Metropolitan Police Force on 29 September 1829

1831: Special Constables Act: empowering magistrates to appoint special constables to control 'Tumult, Felony or Riot'

1834: Further Special Constables Act introduces the concept of “voluntary” special constables and allowed specials to act outside their parish areas.

1848: 150,000 Specials had been sworn in to prevent the Chartists from reaching Kennington common (to then march to Westminster).
(Chartists being reformers who chose to use physical (and sometimes moral force to change and implement their “Peoples Charter”)

1867: Specials undertake attestation (following pressure after Fenian terror strikes)

1912: Specials created on formal permanent footing and given rank and uniform.

1934: renamed the Metropolitan Special Constabulary

1950: female Specials introduced

1958: brought under the control of Scotland Yard

Powers

APPOINTMENT/ DISCIPLINE/ DISMISSAL

S27 Police Act 1996 gives Chief Constables the powers to appoint (and dismiss) Special Constables for their area.

S29 requires all constables to undertake “attestation”

S51 of the Act outlines the regulations that can be applied to Special Constables and states:

The Secretary of State may make regulations as to the government, administration and conditions of service of special constables. Regulations under this section may make provision with respect to:

(a) the qualifications for appointment of special constables;

(b) the retirement of special constables;

(ba) the conduct of special constables and the maintenance of discipline;  (as amended in Police Reform Act 2002)

(c) the suspension of special constables from their office as constable;

(d) the allowances payable to special constables; and

(e) the application to special constables relating to the pensions payable

POWERS & BOUNDARIES

S30(2) A special constable shall have all the powers and privileges of a constable in the police area for which he is appointed and, where the boundary of that area includes the coast, in the adjacent United Kingdom waters.

S30(3) a special constable appointed for a police area shall have all the powers and privileges of a constable.

S30(3)(a) in the case of a special constable appointed for a police area other than the City of London police area, in any other police area which is contiguous to his own police area; and

S30(3)(b) in the case of a special constable appointed for the City of London police area, in the metropolitan police district and in any police area which is contiguous to that district.

S30 (4) A special constable who is required for Aid/ Special Services to serve with another police force shall have all the powers and privileges of a constable in any area in which special constables appointed for the area for which that force is maintained have those powers and privileges under this section.