SSgt Jess Taylor-Bray

Rank: Special Sergeant
Day Job Title: Nuclear Safety Inspector
Special Since: March 2021

What made you decide to join the Special Constabulary?
I wanted to do something where I was able to engage with people more and do something to help people in my local area.

How do you find the balance between working as a special in line with your current employment?
My employer is very supportive of me volunteering and they allow me to work flexibly in order to free up time for me to fit in my specials shifts. I manage to do three or four shifts a month on top of my day job.

Do you feel supported by the Constabulary since joining as a special constable?
Yes, I get a lot of support from my regular officer colleagues when I double crew with them, and from the other specials that I work with. In addition to this, since the initial training there has been a lot of training opportunities to expand my skills and refresh knowledge of different aspects of the role.

What tasks would you undertake during a shift as a special constable?
I tend to go out on response with regular officers which can be a variety of incidents from domestics, to road traffic accidents, to dealing with vulnerable people. Then there is 'follow ups' to jobs, for example using the police systems to book in property and write statements about what has happened.

What do you enjoy most about working within the Special Constabulary?
I really enjoy the variety of jobs you can go to - every shift is different and you learn so much. I also love the specials team in my local policing unit, they are a great bunch of people to work with.

What do you find most rewarding from your role as a special?
I love feeling like I’ve made a difference to someone. I find it really rewarding when I’ve been able to support a victim of crime or a vulnerable person and make them feel safer.

Would someone need prior experience in another field in order to be part of the Special Constabulary?
No definitely not. I would only say that you need good communication skills and be willing to get stuck in.

What would you say to someone considering joining the Special Constabulary?
It is so much fun and so rewarding. If you are willing to put the time and effort in, you will get a lot out of it.