So where HAVE all the special constables gone?
Concerns have been raised over the future of a key community policing role following a sharp decline in numbers.
By MICHAEL BLACKLEY FOR THE SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL
Published: 00:10 GMT, 29 December 2025 | Updated: 00:16 GMT, 29 December 2025
Concerns have been raised over the future of a key community policing role following a sharp decline in numbers.
There were only 384 special constables working in Scotland last year – 72 per cent less than just over a decade ago when Police Scotland was formed.
Volunteers in the part-time role, which is unpaid other than expenses, are used by the force to help patrol the streets, ensure public safety at events and give evidence in court.
However, statistics show numbers have slumped from 1,394 in 2013-14 to 384 in 2024-25.
The Scottish Lib Dems’ justice spokesman Liam McArthur obtained figures from Police Scotland which he claims show the role has been ‘collapsing into extinction’ following the creation of the national single force.
He said: ‘Special constables provide an important link between communities and the police service as they can provide valuable local knowledge and assist frontline officers.
‘The police service is stretched like never before but at a time when the police need all the help they can get, SNP ministers are letting the special constabulary fade away – to the point there may not be one much longer. Officers are up in arms about the pressures they face on every shift.
Penny Lancaster, the wife of rockstar Rod Stewart, volunteered as a special constable in the City of London Police after appearing in Channel 4 show Famous And Fighting Crime
Former model Penny Lancaster completed her training to be a special constable in April 2021
‘On any given day they will be rushing to major incidents or dealing with complex mental health cases. It is essential they receive the right support.
‘I want to see ministers reverse the years of damage inflicted by their botched centralisation. That includes a serious recruitment drive to put the special constabulary on a long-term footing, and ensuring officers and staff have the resources they need to tackle crime and keep people safe.’
Volunteers have identical powers to police officers and can work in a wide range of areas, including at sports matches and assisting after road traffic accidents.
The role attracts volunteers from all walks of life and Sir Rod Stewart’s wife, Penny Lancaster, is a special constable in London.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said attempts are being made to reverse the decline, adding: ‘Police volunteers play a key part in delivering our vision of safer communities.
'We are seeing an increase in the number of special constables we are recruiting which will be very much a focus as we develop our community policing model and strengthen that model.
‘Our volunteering strategy sets out a 10 per cent year-on-year increase in recruiting volunteers and we have an ongoing intake of 18 special constables who have commenced initial training.
'We also have four scheduled intakes of volunteers for the year ahead.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We hugely value the service provided by special constables to keep our communities safe. Their recruitment and deployment is an operational matter for the Chief Constable.
‘Recorded crime down is down by half since 1991 and our record investment in policing enabled the force to take on more recruits in the last financial year than any time since 2013, with further intakes since.
'Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales.’