#MeetTheReps Stephen Scanlon

24 June 2025

Tell us a bit about your life so far, Stephen…

So I’m a senior project manager with an engineering and design company, working within the UK water infrastructure sector. I moved to the UK in 2012 to pursue a career in construction and I’m still here, married with two kids and happily settled. In 2017 I was told you could volunteer to be a fully warranted police officer - I had no idea you could do that! So I applied, was accepted and I’ve been doing it ever since.

What made you want to become a Special?

It was actually my grandfather in Dublin. He was a member of the Irish police, a detective sergeant with the Garda. Growing up listening to his stories, it was just every kid’s dream. I really wanted to pursue a career with the Irish police, but when I finished school they weren’t recruiting. My dad was like ‘You should go to uni’, so I did it but after graduating there wasn’t many construction opportunities in Ireland, to be honest, so I came over here, got an apprenticeship and off I went.

And now you’re a Fed Rep – why did you take that on?

Well the opportunity has only really arisen in the last two years, since the membership was opened up to the Special Constabulary. I just feel there’s a big opportunity to create a really good, proactive working relationship and interface between the Fed and the specials, because at the moment there’s no link. I want to make sure we get people signed up to the Federation and explain the benefits of having the Federation on hand. Being members of the Federation has allowed specials to now carry Taser, for example. What else?

Why do you think it’s important to have officers or specials as Reps?

I think it’s important for them to see specials in a similar role because we are as exposed to the same risks as paid police officers. We will go to the same style of job and we will respond in a police car with the same risks an accident. We need that protection in place and I think it’s a massive, really good support network that’s available to the special constabulary.

And of course, you’ll be keeping an eye on the specials as a Rep?

Yes, that’s the intention. I’ve already introduced myself to the special constabulary as a Fed Rep and told them to come to me with anything, big or small. I plan to sit down with the Surrey branch leadership and work out a strategy of what they want from me and the interface with the specials, because there hasn’t been one to date. I also plan to speak to the special constabulary as a whole to understand what they would like from me. That doesn’t have to be me at the end of the phone, but also what they want in terms of long-term, strategic ideas. We’ve got a broad range of various professionals within the special constabulary who are used to this level of strategic support, but they don’t have it yet. I want to create it.

So how can people approach the Federation?

I’d like to think people within the special constabulary have my number and email address now, so they can reach out. That’s the best way and they should get in touch, there’s no query too small. I’ll happily signpost and answer you straight away if I can. Don’t sit on anything, just reach out.

Finally, can you give us an unusual fact about yourself?

I’m the nine generation of an Irish family pub, that opened in 1833 and is called John Kavanagh’s The Gravediggers. It’s in Glasnevin, Dublin.