Volunteers’ Week: Chief Inspector Neil Williams reflects on 31 years as a Special

1 June 2026

A former coal miner who has risen to the rank of Chief Inspector in the Special Constabulary has spoken about how much he enjoys the role.

Neil Williams, who is also a Federation rep, said being a Special has given him experiences and friendships he could never have imagined when he joined in 1995.

He said: “As a Special, you leave your day job behind, put your police uniform on, and every day is different.

“You don’t know what you’re going to be met with, what challenges you’re going to face, the people you’re going to meet or the places you’ll go.

“It’s so diverse and so rewarding.

Chief Inspector Neil Williams

“I wouldn’t still be doing it after 31 years if didn’t enjoy it.”

Neil was speaking during Volunteers’ Week, which shines a spotlight on those who give their time to support others, including Specials.

He as an underground electrician in the mines in South Yorkshire before joining the Mines Rescue Service, where he spent 26 years responding to emergencies including fires, explosions and accidents underground.

During the 1990s, as the mines closed, Neil applied to become an officer with South Yorkshire Police but, unfortunately, failed the written assessment.

“They told me to go away, take A-Level English and come back,” he said.

“I thought, ‘no thank you.’”

After his work moved to Selby, he researched North Yorkshire Police’s Special Constabulary and joined in September 1995.

Communication

Neil said that a large part of the role is about people.

He said: “The biggest thing I’ve learned is communication and people skills.

“When I first joined, you did a lot of foot patrol. You got to know shopkeepers, members of the public, door staff working in the nighttime economy to get a feel for how the night was.

“You built relationships with people, which was great, because if you ever needed them, they're there for you and vice versa.”

Neil said he has seen attitudes towards Specials transform dramatically over the past three decades.

He said: “When I first started, Specials were sometimes seen as ‘hobby bobbies’ who were taking overtime away from regular officers.

“I was one of the guys, and there were others, who said we're not taking your job, we're here to help you. We’re here to back you up and here to give you assistance.”

He said that North Yorkshire’s Special Constabulary is now fully embedded within the Force and its volunteers are making vital contributions.

Special Constabulary

“We’ve got Specials across roads policing, neighbourhood teams, response, rural crime and even attached to the dog section,” he said.

“We’re very lucky in North Yorkshire.”

He also praised Special Constabulary Chief Officer Sharron Moverley-Holmes for her leadership and support.

“She’s absolutely fantastic for us,” he said.

Alongside his role as a Special, Neil also became a Federation representative last year.

He has recently completed his training and is supporting officers through welfare work.

“At the moment, I’m a welfare officer for a police officer,” he said.

“It’s important as Fed reps we provide that comfort for them, that support mechanism.

“We sign post them to agencies, we agree on time scales when we can contact them, and that they can ring me if they’re feeling low, or something has cropped up.

Fallen officers

“Welfare is a big part of what the Fed do.”

Neil is also acutely aware of the risks officers and Specials face.

He reflected on the death of Special Constable Glenn Goodman, who was shot and killed by a member of the IRA on the A64 in 1992.

“Every year we hold a memorial for fallen officers in North Yorkshire and pay special tribute to Glenn,” he said.

“Although we are Specials, we have the same powers as regular officers. We do the same job, wear the same uniform, and attend the same incidents.”

And he gave encouragement to anyone considering becoming a Special Constable the role is

“It’s challenging and rewarding,” he said. “There’s nothing quite like it.”

Diary

June 2026