Special Constable Ranks - Surrey Police

The request was successful.

Dear Surrey Police,

1. Does the Special Constabulary currently have a rank structure?
If yes:
2. What are the names of the ranks?
3. What rank insignia do they use? (Please provide pictures if possible)
4. When did the Special Constabulary move to their current insignia?
5. Does the force use any force emblems on their rank sliders/epaulettes? If so, please describe or include image.
6. If the insignia differs from regular officers, are there any plans to transition to match regular officers?
7. Does the force use the SC and Crown to identify Special Constables?
8. Are any collar number prefixes, suffixes or other divisional markings used to identify Special Constables?

Yours faithfully,

Chris Burns

!Freedom of Information (Surrey), Surrey Police

Dear CHRIS BURNS,

Freedom of Information: 000018/19 (SPECIAL CONSTABLE RANKS FOI)

I write to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Request
(FOI).

The Act requires us to respond to FOI requests within 20 working days of
receiving the request. Unfortunately, at the moment, there is likely to be
a delay in us providing you with a response. We currently have a
significant backlog which we have reported to the Information
Commissioner's Office. We are working with the ICO to reduce the delay.

We will keep you informed of our progress, but I would like to apologise
in advance and hope that this does not cause you too much inconvenience.

Yours Sincerely,

Information Access Team
Surrey Police
Telephone 01483 630007

!Freedom of Information (Surrey), Surrey Police

Dear CHRIS BURNS,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST REFERENCE: 000018/19

I write in connection with your request for information received on
received 31/12/2018. I apologise for the late response to your request and
for not keeping you updated accordingly; the delay in processing has been
due to unprecedented levels of requests that had resulted in a backlog – I
hope that this has not caused you too much inconvenience

You had asked:

1. Does the Special Constabulary currently have a rank structure? If yes:

2. What are the names of the ranks?

3. What rank insignia do they use? (Please provide pictures if possible)

4. When did the Special Constabulary move to their current insignia?

5. Does the force use any force emblems on their rank sliders/epaulettes?
If so, please describe or include image.

6. If the insignia differs from regular officers, are there any plans to
transition to match regular officers?

7. Does the force use the SC and Crown to identify Special Constables?

8. Are any collar number prefixes, suffixes or other divisional markings
used to identify Special Constables?

Section 1 of the Freedom of information Act 2000 (FOIA) places two duties
on public authorities. Unless exemptions apply, the first duty at s1(1)(a)
is to confirm or deny whether the information specified within a request
is held. The second duty at s1(1)(b) is to disclose information that has
been confirmed as being held. Where exemptions are relied upon Section 17
of the FOIA requires that we provide the applicant with a notice which: a)
states that fact, b) specifies the exemption(s) in question and c) state
(if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

The information that you have requested is held by Surrey Police. Please
find our response below.

 

Response:

 

1.       Yes

2.       Our structure is:

Special Constable

Special Sergeant

Special Inspector

Deputy Chief Officer

Chief Officer

3.       Insignia are :

Special Sergeant – one horizontal bar above collar number

Special Inspector – 2 parallel horizontal bars above collar number

Deputy Chief Officer – 3 parallel horizontal bars surrounded by laurel
wreath, all in platinum

Chief Officer – 4 parallel horizontal bars surrounded by laurel wreath,
all in platinum

4.       We have been using the current insignia for over 12 years, but
cannot unfortunately provide more accurate timescales.

5.       The Surrey Police crest is displayed on all epaulette sleeves.

6.       There are no plans to review the insignia.           

7.       No

8.       Surrey Special Constable collar number are numerical, four digits
in length, and always begin with a 5 or 6.

 

Surrey Police provides you the right to request a re-examination of your
case under its review procedure. How to do this is set out in the attached
Appeals Notice. Having followed the full procedure, if you are still
dissatisfied, then you have the right to direct your comments to the
Information Commissioner who will give your case consideration.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Surrey Police. Should you have any further enquiries concerning this
matter, please write or contact us on 01483 - 630007 quoting the reference
number above.

Once again I apologise for the delayed response.

Yours Sincerely,

Alan Bayless
Information Access Team
Surrey Police
Telephone 01483 630007

!Freedom of Information (Surrey), Surrey Police

1 Attachment

Dear CHRIS BURNS,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST REFERENCE: 000018/19

I write in connection with your request for information received on
received 31/12/2018. I apologise for the late response to your request and
for not keeping you updated accordingly; the delay in processing has been
due to unprecedented levels of requests that had resulted in a backlog – I
hope that this has not caused you too much inconvenience

You had asked:

1. Does the Special Constabulary currently have a rank structure? If yes:

2. What are the names of the ranks?

3. What rank insignia do they use? (Please provide pictures if possible)

4. When did the Special Constabulary move to their current insignia?

5. Does the force use any force emblems on their rank sliders/epaulettes?
If so, please describe or include image.

6. If the insignia differs from regular officers, are there any plans to
transition to match regular officers?

7. Does the force use the SC and Crown to identify Special Constables?

8. Are any collar number prefixes, suffixes or other divisional markings
used to identify Special Constables?

Section 1 of the Freedom of information Act 2000 (FOIA) places two duties
on public authorities. Unless exemptions apply, the first duty at s1(1)(a)
is to confirm or deny whether the information specified within a request
is held. The second duty at s1(1)(b) is to disclose information that has
been confirmed as being held. Where exemptions are relied upon Section 17
of the FOIA requires that we provide the applicant with a notice which: a)
states that fact, b) specifies the exemption(s) in question and c) state
(if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

The information that you have requested is held by Surrey Police. Please
find our response below.

 

Response:

 

1.       Yes

2.       Our structure is:

Special Constable

Special Sergeant

Special Inspector

Deputy Chief Officer

Chief Officer

3.       Insignia are :

Special Sergeant – one horizontal bar above collar number

Special Inspector – 2 parallel horizontal bars above collar number

Deputy Chief Officer – 3 parallel horizontal bars surrounded by laurel
wreath, all in platinum

Chief Officer – 4 parallel horizontal bars surrounded by laurel wreath,
all in platinum

4.       We have been using the current insignia for over 12 years, but
cannot unfortunately provide more accurate timescales.

5.       The Surrey Police crest is displayed on all epaulette sleeves.

6.       There are no plans to review the insignia.           

7.       No

8.       Surrey Special Constable collar number are numerical, four digits
in length, and always begin with a 5 or 6.

 

Surrey Police provides you the right to request a re-examination of your
case under its review procedure. How to do this is set out in the attached
Appeals Notice. Having followed the full procedure, if you are still
dissatisfied, then you have the right to direct your comments to the
Information Commissioner who will give your case consideration.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Surrey Police. Should you have any further enquiries concerning this
matter, please write or contact us on 01483 - 630007 quoting the reference
number above.

Once again I apologise for the delayed response.

Yours Sincerely,

Alan Bayless
Information Access Team
Surrey Police
Telephone 01483 630007