Traditionally, volunteers have assisted the work of the Police through the role of the Special Constable. Other opportunities are available, with an emphasis on the Police working with, and through, local people to provide the kind of policing that communities will value.
What and Who?
Independent Custody Visitors are members of the local community who visit police stations unannounced to check on the welfare of people in custody. They come from all walks of life and from all sections of the community. To become a visitor, you must be over 18. A criminal record is not an automatic barrier to becoming a custody visitor; individual circumstances are assessed. However, magistrates, serving police officers and civilian staff, and others for whom the role might generate a conflict of interest, are excluded (see www.icva.org.uk for more details).
Special Constables are volunteers who receive training to work with and support regular police officers. People may join the Specials because of an interest in helping their local community, but also because they are interested in police work, or because they want to find out more about policing. They come from all walks of life and give at least 4 hours of their time a week. To find out more, look up the contact details of your local Police Force in a telephone directory or visit the Crime and Policing section of the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk or the 'Specials' own website at www.specialconstables.gov.uk
Neighbourhood Watch schemes involve volunteers from local communities, with a volunteer co-ordinator, working with the police to improve the quality of life for local communities. More details from www.neigbourhoodwatch.uk.com or www.neighbourhood.net. Lessons learnt from a National Reassurance Policing project together with the Policing Priority Area and Community Cohesion programme will inform the Neighbourhood Policing model and should result in more opportunities in the future for volunteers to work with police.
Local initiatives may involve, for instance, volunteers helping to staff the front counter at a police station that might otherwise be closed to the public. Contact your local Police Force as suggested below.
How?
A telephone call or un-announced visit to a local police station may not be the best way of finding out how you can become involved, as many are open to the public for only limited periods and you are likely to be seen by someone who can only take a message. It may be better to write to the local Police headquarters or explore the website of your local Police Force.
