# The Police (Special Constables) (Scotland) Regulations 2008, Regulation 6: Qualifications for appointment as a special constable


(1) A candidate for appointment to the office of special constable–
(a) must, if not a national of an EEA State, have leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for an indefinite period;
(b) must produce satisfactory references as to character, and, if that candidate has served in any police force, in the armed forces, in the civil service or as a seaman, produce satisfactory proof of good conduct while so serving;
(c) must have attained the age of 18 years;
(d) must be certified by a registered medical practitioner approved by the police authority to be fitted both physically and mentally to perform the duties on which that candidate will be employed after appointment;
(e) must meet the standard of eyesight determined by the Scottish Ministers;
(f) must satisfy the chief constable that he or she is sufficiently educated, including being sufficiently competent in written and spoken English and sufficiently numerate, by passing an examination of a standard approved by the chief constable and the Scottish Ministers after consultation with the Police Advisory Board of Scotland; and
(g) must give to the chief constable such information as to his or her current employment, previous history of employment or any other matter relating to his or her appointment as may be required.
(2) A candidate for appointment to the office of special constable must be given a notice in terms approved by the Scottish Ministers drawing attention to the terms and conditions of service.
(3) A person who is appointed to the office of special constable must not be appointed for a fixed term.
(4) In this regulation–
(a) “armed forces” means the naval, military or air forces of the Crown including any women’s service administered by the Defence Council; and
(b) “seaman” has the same meaning as in section 313 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2008/117/regulation/6 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/police-special-constables-scotland-regulations-2008/regulation-6
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.