A Special Constable (State officer) will be a member of the QPS. Special Constables will perform frontline general duties policing duties. They will be used to bolster the frontline capability, and will hold the same powers, duties and have the same responsibilities as permanently employed police officers.

Special Constables (State officer) will perform general duties during business-as-usual shifts, particularly during times of peak demand, as well as performing frontline general duties during natural disasters and major events. Their responsibilities are consistent with the ‘Key Accountabilities’ for a general duties Constable/Senior Constable (GDO01).

At an incident the senior person will always be the police officer regardless of years of service.

Special Constables cannot perform ‘special duties’.

Each Special Constable (State officer) will be located at an approved station but allocated to ‘District Functions’. Their appointments will not be reflected in establishment numbers at stations. This will not impact on the growth in positions. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, they will only perform duties from the station which they are allocated to.

However, it is recognised that there may be a specific need, such as an unforeseen surge, for them to be asked to perform frontline general duties in any approved locations. While they may be engaged to perform frontline general duties policing outside their allocated District, this is subject to the approval of their designated Officer in Charge. In these instances, their shift will commence and end at their allocation station and the OICs will need to make appropriate arrangements in terms of travel. 

Special Constables (State officer) are engaged on a demand basis and as operationally required to perform frontline general duties policing duties. There will be no guarantee of minimum hours and shifts. The work will generally be intermittent and irregular in nature with no set working pattern. Special Constable (State officer) can be engaged to fill operational demand for frontline general duties policing; and enhance the QPS’ capabilities to respond to surges associated with disasters or major events.

Special Constables (State officer) can accept or decline a request for engagement. Prior to accepting the engagement, a Special Constable (State officer) must comply with the QPS Fatigue Management policy. When engaged, the hours of work are to be recorded on ITAS by the Officer in Charge. Each engagement stands alone with a minimum payment of two (2) hours work to be made in respect of each engagement. 

As outlined in the Police Recruiting Manual section 6.22 Applicants with prior QPS experience, Applicants with prior QPS experience will submit to a range of assessments including, but not limited to a face to face panel interview with commissioned officers. Further outlined in The Special Constable (State officer) Standard section 5.1, the interview for Special Constable applicants would be undertaken if there is an issue that needs to be addressed and/or further clarification re development/engagement. The Commissioned Officer would, where practical, be the relevant Patrol Group Inspector.

All applicants who wish to become a Special Constable will need to complete an application form. For applicants who have resigned or age retired (within the past 24 months), the processing of their application will be very similar to the process used for ‘re-joiners’. For officers who are transitioning immediately into this role, the application process will be simpler.

All applicants will be subject to integrity vetting, QPS work history checks, and referee checks including from previous QPS OICs/managers and relevant Assistant Commissioner or Executive Director. The name of Special Constables (State officer) applicant who are re-joining the QPS will be included in the Police Gazette. This does not apply to current officers.

As part of the selection process, consideration will be given to a range of points including:

• The applicant’s length and type of policing experience
• The applicant’s current (including Operational Skills and Tactics) and specific skills
• The applicant’s training and discipline history
• Any external employment being undertaken by the applicant to ensure there is not a conflict of interest
• The nature and duration of development required to ensure the applicant can perform frontline general duties policing
• The availability of the applicant to undertake the initial and ongoing development requirements
• The willingness and availability of the applicant to perform frontline general duties policing
• The specific operational needs of the District, including challenges to service peak demands and respond to surges
• The expected benefit realisation for the QPS and the community.

Successful applicants will be provided with a ‘Letter of Appointment’ that applies conditions as outlined in an Instrument of Appointment – Special Constable (State officer). The appointment as a Special Constable (State officer) is on the basis of employment other than full-time or part-time employment.

The “Appointment date” is the official date the successful applicant can commence development with the district prior to being sworn in as a Special Constable. Appointed Special Constables cannot use police powers or wear accoutrements until they have been sworn in as a police officer.

The Commissioner will have an unqualified power to revoke or vary the appointment of a Special Constable (State officer) by written notice given to the Special Constable (State officer).

People Capability Command (PCAP) will be responsible for ensuring the initial training and development is delivered in a consistent manner to ensure the Special Constable (State officer) can perform frontline general duties policing. This will be undertaken on a case-by-case basis and consider the applicant’s knowledge and skills.

The applicant must be prepared to undertake the training required, but consideration of blocks rather than a singular block of training will be provided. The training strategies (if required) may include a customised training and development plan which may include current courses or parts of courses or newly developed training in consideration of an officer’s experience.

Where the required training is not completed within the agreed period, the appointment will be rescinded. The applicant will be sworn in as a Special Constable (State officer) until they have completed the required training. The allocated District will be responsible for ensuring the Special Constable (State officer) maintains currency in terms of being able to perform frontline general duties policing. This is to the same level as a current frontline general duties officer. PCAP will provide the same level of support as it does to operational police officers to maintain operational currency.

At the time of engagement, successful applicants will be provided with a ‘Letter of Appointment’ that applies conditions as outlined in a Commissioner’s Direction issued by the Commissioner in accordance with the Police Service Administration Act 1990.

This will include:

• Maximum rate of pay equivalent up to the top pay point of Senior Constable with additional allowances where appropriate
• 25% casual loading in addition to the ordinary hourly rate
• Relevant shift/weekend/public holiday allowances/penalties
• Employer contribution for superannuation will be at 12.5% of ordinary times earnings
• No recreation leave or sick leave, but will accrue long service leave in accordance with Ministerial Directive relating to Long Service Leave

As a casual, a Special Constable (State officer) will not be guaranteed any minimum hours or shifts. The work will be intermittent and irregular in nature with no set working pattern. They will be requested to perform frontline general duties policing as determine necessary by the designated supervisor or authorised person. This will depend on operational needs. 

There are no minimum hours a Special Constable (State officer) can be engaged for, however there will be a minimum payment as for 2 hours work for each engagement. Times will be based on the quarter hour. If required and approved, they will be paid overtime, which will also be based on the quarter hour.

While there are no specific minimum shifts, it is expected that there is a clear return on investment for the QPS and the community. 

The role of a Special Constable (State officer) will be regarded as the secondary employment. Special Constables (State officer) will need to submit a report (if applicable) to ensure there are no conflicts of interest. 

Former Police Officers who are currently serving as QPS staff members can apply to become a Special Constable (State officer), however they will need to have two payroll numbers and comply with the QPS Fatigue Management policy.
 

Special Constables (State officers) will be required to wear the QPS operational uniform and comply with the Code of Dress. They will be issued with the same level of uniform and accoutrements, including firearm, as a First Year Constable. Their accoutrements will be stored at their allocated station. 

Each engagement of a Special Constable (State officer) stands alone. Special Constables (State officers) are paid in accordance with the Instrument of Appointment, which includes overtime, shift penalties but not OSA (and not a 35% allowance, should that be applicable for a location).  There is also no provision for the payment of travelling allowances.

A Special Constables' (State officers) role scope is the same as a general duties Constable/Senior Constable (GDO01). Performing speed camera is not an associated core skill and requirement. As a result, a Special Constable (State officer) can NOT be rostered to perform overtime to perform speed camera duties. 

In the same manner as part-time police officers, Special Constables (State officers) need to work a minimum of 1,200 ordinary hours and satisfactory work performance. If there is a break in service, from resignation to re-joining, the previous service is recognised in whole years only on return. The previous months of service beyond the whole years and the associated hours of service restarts. If there is no time between resignation/retirement, then the associated months and hours of service will be recognised. For example, if a constable with 6 months service is at 1.4 and transitions to Special Constable (State officer), the officer would need a further 6 months service (and meet any other mandatory requirements) to progress to 1.5.

Special Constables (State officers) are considered workers under the s11 of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act, therefore claims are processed in the same manner as all QPS claims under the policy.

In the event the casual member is injured at work (with QPS), and there is a primary or secondary employment for the member, WorkCover QLD will also cover loss of income for the alternate employment if the claimant can be identified as a worker under the Act (WorkCover QLD will not cover loss of income for self-employed members).

As Special Constables (State officers) are engaged on a casual basis, they are not entitled to any transfer expenses. Clause 78 (4) of the QPS Certified Agreement 2022 (CB/2022/127) refers to the Ministerial Directive relating to Transfer and Appointment Expenses, this states that casual employees are not entitled to transfer entitlements.