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Lesson 4 of 6

How do citizens play a role in policing?

I can explain how citizens support policing and our wider justice system.

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Lesson 4 of 6
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How do citizens play a role in policing?

I can explain how citizens support policing and our wider justice system.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Special constables are volunteers who support police by patrolling and responding to incidents.
  2. Special constables have full police powers and help prevent crime by increasing police presence.
  3. Special constable's diverse skills and backgrounds can help build trust with communities.
  4. Police staff support justice through roles like call handling, forensics and administrative work.
  5. Police staff help protect rights, ensure fair treatment and keep the legal system running smoothly.

Keywords

  • Police officer - a paid employee who enforces the law and helps keep people safe

  • Special constable - a volunteer police officer with the same powers as regular police officers

  • Police staff - people who work in support roles to help the police, but don’t have arrest powers

Common misconception

That special constables do not have the same police powers as regular police officers.

Special constables have police powers and wear the same uniform as regular police officers.

You may wish to carry out an internet search for jobs within your local police force, this will allow pupils to see the range of jobs available. Alternatively, you could carry out a generic job search for policing jobs.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Finish this sentence, laws are an Act of...

policing
Correct answer: Parliament
people power
participation

Q2.
Put the descriptions of the Miners’ Strike of 1984-1985 in chronological order.

1 - Coal mines were becoming unprofitable.
2 - The Government planned to close the unprofitable mines.
3 - Miners believed the closures were a way to weaken trade unions.
4 - The miners went on strike for over a year.
5 - The Government refused to negotiate with the miners who were on strike.
6 - The miners had to return to work without wining any changes.

Q3.
Which former Prime Minister is known for taking a stand against trade union disruption and limiting their powers?

Correct Answer: Margaret Thatcher, Thatcher, the Iron Lady, Iron Lady

Q4.
Negotiating with those in power to try and change something is known as what?

belittling
Correct answer: bargaining
bemusing
battling

Q5.
Which is not a protected characteristic identified in the Equality Act 2010?

race
pregnancy
Correct answer: homelessness
marriage

Q6.
Which decade saw the introduction of the National Minimum Wage Act?

1970s
1980s
Correct answer: 1990s
2000s
2010s

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Put the words in order to create a definition for a police officer.

1 - a
2 - paid
3 - employee
4 - who
5 - enforces
6 - the
7 - law

Q2.
Match the police role with the term that relates to it.

Correct Answer:police officer,wears a uniform and can enforce the law

wears a uniform and can enforce the law

Correct Answer:special constable,volunteers but can enforce the law

volunteers but can enforce the law

Correct Answer:police staff,supports the police but don't have powers

supports the police but don't have powers

Q3.
How would you describe a special constable's uniform?

It is similar to a police officer's.
Correct answer: It is the same as a police officer's.
It is different to a police officer's.
It depends what specials rank they are.
Specials don't wear a uniform.

Q4.
Which figure describes the number of special constables in England and Wales?

around six
around 60
around 600
Correct answer: around 6000
around 6 000 000

Q5.
Which of the following is not an example of a police staff role?

call handler
crime scene investigator
Correct answer: detective
detention officer

Q6.
Which human right do police staff support?

Correct answer: the right to a fair trial
the right to freedom of speech
the right to privacy
the right to a nationality

Lesson appears in

UnitCitizenship / How can we play a part in the legal system?

Citizenship

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