Volunteer Special Constable gains taser accreditation

One of our most experienced Special Constables has become the first volunteer in force to receive taser training.

One of our most experienced Special Constables has become the first volunteer in force to receive taser training. This means that he can now attend more serious incidents and protect himself and others, if necessary, with the use of a taser.

Our Special Constables have the same training and powers as our regular officers and face the same risks. The only difference is that they are volunteers who give up their spare time to help protect others.

Special Constables are particularly valuable at events such as the football, and on weekend night shifts, where the increase of officers helps to keep our streets even safer. They also help to support our full-time officers by taking some of the load off when demand is high.

Special Constable David Holmes has volunteered within Derbyshire Constabulary for seven years. He is a big advocate for volunteering within the police and often goes above the volunteer hours required of him. To increase his skills, he has recently taken part in a four-day taser training course, allowing him to be qualified to carry a taser.

The course covers all the skills and safety advice needed to be able to deploy with a taser, alongside important training around use of force and ensuring actions are proportionate and necessary. Using a taser may simply involve drawing or pointing it, that is often enough to encourage violent people to calm down. Thankfully, actual taser discharges are not an everyday occurrence in our county.

Now fully trained, alongside his other taser trained colleagues, he will undergo regular eyesight tests and refresher courses, to ensure that he continues to operate a taser safely.

Special Constable Holmes said, “I’ve loved being a Special Constable ever since I joined. I particularly enjoy getting out there and helping others, whether that’s reassuring local communities or providing help at a time of crisis, you can see how much it makes a difference to people’s lives.”

“Being taser trained gives me an additional tactical option to consider when dealing with violent incidents, allowing me to better protect members of the public and support my colleagues.”

Being a volunteer can bring a host of benefits, it can help your career, your understanding of the community and as seen, can allow you to protect others.

To find out more about how you could volunteer as a Special Constable, visit Special Constable (DP23b) :: Derbyshire Constabulary Jobs