Special Constabulary Ranks
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.026647
I note you seek access to the following information:
1. It is often stated that a regular Police Constable may give a lawful order to every member of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary from Special Constable to Special Chief Officer. Please may you provide the relevant policy or regulations laying that down?
2. If it is not the case, can you state what policy there is in regard to matters of lawful orders given to members of the MSC by regular PCs?
3.Vice Versa, may a senior member of the MSC such as a Special Inspector ever give a lawful order or instruction to a regular officer?
4. Are senior members of the MSC, ie Special Inspector, Special Chief Officer etc required to be treated in regulations as senior officers by other members of the MSC? For instance, can one give a lawful order or instruction to an SC?
All of the above questions exclude scenarios such as public order or any other situation where there is a Bronze, Silver, Gold system in place.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
The Metropolitan Special Constabulary (MSC) is the volunteer police force of the Metropolitan Police Service. It is one of three Special Constabularies operating within London, the others being part of the City of London Police and British Transport Police. The service was created over 190 years ago under the Special Constables Act 1831.
Special Constables are warranted Police Officers who hold the Office of Constable and enjoy the full powers and privileges of a Police Officer throughout England and Wales and are subject to the same standards of professional behaviour as any Police Officer would under The Police (Conduct) Regulations 2012. They wear the same uniform and engage in the same work as regular Police Officers.
Q1 - It is often stated that a regular Police Constable may give a lawful order to every member of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary from Special Constable to Special Chief Officer. Please may you provide the relevant policy or regulations laying that down?
Q2 - If it is not the case, can you state what policy there is in regard to matters of lawful orders given to members of the MSC by regular PCs
As explained, all Special Constables (irrespective of their title) hold the rank of constable, having the same legal powers and position as a regular constable.
A police constable does not have the ability to direct or give a lawful order to every member of the MSC as they too are constables.
Q3. Vice Versa, may a senior member of the MSC such as a Special Inspector ever give a lawful order or instruction to a regular officer?
As above, all Special Constables hold the rank of constable. As with the regular service, role-over-rank could see direction/tactical options being given by a special constable to a regular officer.
Q4 - Are senior members of the MSC, i.e. Special Inspector, Special Chief Officer etc. required to be treated in regulations as senior officers by other members of the MSC? For instance, can one give a lawful order or instruction to an SC?
The Metropolitan Special Constabulary has supervisory grading and as such, tasking, direction and issuing of orders are the role and responsibility and expectation of any supervisor.
More information can be found here: