Lincolnshire Police launch volunteer recruitment campaign

Lincolnshire Police is looking to recruit volunteers from across the county and is running a series of volunteer recruitment events in October, linking in with the national “Step Up” campaign.

BTP Specials – up for the main event

British Transport volunteers make sure we all travel safely – especially on those “big event” days.

Nationwide Campaign Launched to Recruit More Volunteers

A new campaign is being launched today (Friday 6 October) by the police to encourage more people to donate their time and expertise as unpaid volunteers to support policing across England and Wales. Titled ‘Step Up’, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the hundreds of volunteering roles available across England and Wales and profile…
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John’s Special Role – West Midlands Police

One of West Midlands Police’s most senior officers has outlined his retirement plans after 30 years serving the public…to get back on the beat as a volunteer officer! Iain O’Brien was previously a Chief Superintendent heading up the National Ballistic Intelligence Service (NABIS) in Birmingham – the specialist unit tackling gun crime in the UK….
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Aberystwyth Freshers’ Week – Dyfed-Powys Police

The start of the academic year at Aberystwyth University is a busy time. There is an increase in traffic heading to the small coastal town as thousands of new students arrive from across the UK and EU. It also coincides with the Student Union’s Freshers’ week which adds to the number of visitors. The Special…
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Volunteers Help Resolve Conflict- Wiltshire Police

Restorative justice brings together victims and offenders of crime to help repair harm caused and find a positive way forward. Police Support Volunteers play a key role in providing a restorative justice service across Wiltshire. Volunteers can act as Restorative Justice Facilitators and receive training for this specialised work where they provide an independent, non-judgemental,…
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Homewatch Coordinators – Merseyside Police

For over 20 years, a group of volunteers have worked as Homewatch Co-ordinators in the Sefton area.  The Co-ordinators have set up a number of schemes to provide reassurance to the local community and to provide support, policing information and crime prevention advice. The team have built up excellent relationships with local people and often…
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Police and paramedics in joint project – Gwent Police

The Special Constabulary in Gwent operates a ground-breaking and innovative joint emergency response unit in collaboration with the Welsh Ambulance NHS Trust. The two organisations launched the Joint Response Unit (JRU) in the summer of 2016 after research showed over 2,000 incidents between October 2015 and March 2016 were attended by both police and paramedics. …
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Community Events Team – Surrey Police

Surrey Police’s Community Events Team brings together 15 enthusiastic and dedicated Police Support Volunteers, who contribute to the Force’s community engagement activity by representing Surrey Police at community events across the county. At each event, the team spends time with people of all ages to promote the work of Surrey Police and to provide information…
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Policing local football – West Mercia Police

Special Constables often provide support and additional resource to the policing of local events to ensure that they run smoothly and so that members of the public can enjoy them safely. One such example is local football matches.  In October 2016, Special Constables from Redditch Police Station worked with the local Safer Neighbourhood Team, providing…
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The Specials Priority Team – Warwickshire Police

From September-December 2016 the 16 officers of the South Warwickshire Special Constabulary Priorities Team (or Specials Priorities Team) carried out more than 456 hours of operational duties. Their aim was to address local priorities in South Warwickshire, so they carried out proactive work to tackle problems and to respond to concerns raised by members of…
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Policing the World Triathlon Series – West Yorkshire Police

The Special Constabulary was responsible for the policing operation for the 2016 World Triathlon Series held in Leeds. This was a significant and high profile event which was operationally policed and commanded by the Special Constabulary requiring minimal support from regular police officers. The Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds represents the pinnacle of triathlon competition…
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Operation Responder – Specials join forces with the ambulance service – South Yorkshire Police

Members of the Special Constabulary at South Yorkshire Police have joined forces with Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) to launch ‘Operation Responder’. The initiative involves teaming two Special Constables with the YAS response car every Friday and Saturday night between 6pm and 2am to help respond to calls for service relating to alcohol-related incidents in Rotherham…
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Cardiff Police Student Volunteers

The Police Student Volunteer scheme involves university students working with South Wales Police on crime reduction and prevention initiatives. The Student Volunteers work with police colleagues and staff from partner agencies, including local councils, to improve the local community for the benefit of students. They help run a burglary reduction scheme, which helps ensure that…
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Police and mountain rescue in lifesaving team – North Wales

Dave Roberts-Simcock is a volunteer Mountain Rescue Liaison Officer. He forms a vital bridge between North Wales Police, Mountain Rescue and other search organisations in North Wales. He provides a point of contact as well as tactical advice and support during land rescue operations. On New Year’s Eve 2016, he volunteered within the Force Control…
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Volunteer PCSOs – Community Based Police Volunteering – Lincolnshire Police

In 2013 Lincolnshire Police identified an opportunity to broaden police volunteering opportunities through the introduction of Volunteer PCSOs (VPCSOs). The ambition was to provide an additional public-facing role at the heart of local communities. The vision was for VPCSOs to provide the same service as PCSO colleagues, with the same powers, despite the requirement for…
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Hampshire Community Court programme – Hampshire Constabulary

Hampshire Constabulary was the first force to pilot a ‘peer court’ concept known as the Hampshire Community Court programme. Volunteers aged 14 to 25 contribute to this programme by volunteering their time to hold regular restorative-focused hearings where a crime has been committed involving another young person. Using restorative principals, which look for ways for…
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Police Cadets Help Dementia Sufferers – Cleveland Police

Cleveland Police Cadets have been helping local people living with dementia by organising social events – and raising awareness of the Herbert Protocol. The protocol encourages carers, families and friends of people with dementia to hold information about them that can help the police find them if they go missing. All of the Cadets have…
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Active Citizens – Essex Police

There are approximately one hundred Active Citizens around the county of Essex, acting as a link between the police and the public. Active Citizens help with various initiatives to support the police and their local communities.  They spend time interacting with local communities and provide advice and information, as well as gathering information and intelligence….
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The Divert Project – Metropolitan Police Service

The Divert Project sees Police Support Volunteers meeting with people aged 18 to 25 who are in police custody. They discuss education, training or employment opportunities that might be suitable for the detainee when they leave custody. Detainees that show interest are referred to relevant partner agencies which can provide further support. The aim of…
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Special Constabulary Warrants Team – Suffolk Special Constabulary

Suffolk Special Constabulary formed a team in the west of the county to tackle crime by executing warrants to search property and arrest offenders. The team was set up to mirror the work of warrants teams run by regular police officers in the county. The Specials received specialist training in entering properties, carrying out searches,…
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How Specials Help Tackle Rural Crime – Norfolk’s Special Constabulary

Norfolk’s Special Constabulary has a team dedicated to tackling rural crime. The Operation Randall team was established in 2016 and is made up of Special Constabulary officers who have an interest in tackling rural crime, and is led by officers who have a farming background. The team works with the Specials on Horseback team, which…
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Specials helping to improve road safety – Gloucestershire Constabulary

Gloucestershire’s Special Constabulary plays a crucial role in fighting crime and making the streets of the county safer. Specials come from many different backgrounds and walks of life and form a vital link between their community and the police service Specials often take key roles in the delivery of Constabulary initiatives and campaigns. This includes…
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Special boost to North Yorkshire Police

Another eight new Special Constables have joined the ranks of North Yorkshire Police’s Special Constabulary, bringing the total attested so far this year to 19. The new, volunteer officers were attested – which is which is when they are sworn in and given their warrant cards – in front of family and friends at Northallerton…
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Policing the Leicester Tigers – Leicestershire Police

Leicestershire Specials have taken the lead on policing the Leicester Tigers rugby team home games throughout the Aviva Premiership and the European Rugby Champions Cup.

John’s Special Role – Bedfordshire Police

Special Constable John Power has overcome Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and a double lung transplant to become the UK’s first ever Special Constable dog handler.

Tidy Oldham smartphone app – Greater Manchester Police

Police Support Volunteers, Special Constables and Cadets from Greater Manchester Police worked together to promote the use of the ‘Tidy Oldham’ smart phone app. The app allowed them to take photos of safety concerns they identified out in the community, which were then sent directly to Oldham Council, who resolved the issue.

The RAPPAW Scheme – Hertfordshire Constabulary

Hertfordshire Constabulary has introduced an innovative scheme with volunteers, introducing dogs as part of their work in victim care.

Student Officer, Special Constabulary and PCSO training role players – Thames Valley Police

Thames Valley Police Support Volunteers and Cadets are regularly involved in the training programmes for police officers, Special Constables and PCSOs.

Specials Lead Major Incident Exercise – Devon & Cornwall’s Special Constabulary

Devon and Cornwall’s Special Constabulary played a key role in a major incident exercise involving a fire in a tower block in Plymouth.

Specials Join Regional Service – Nottinghamshire Constabulary

Nottinghamshire Police Special Constables can now be recruited to the East Midlands Operational Support Service (EMOpSS).

Southwater Police Office – Sussex Police

The Southwater Police Office was set up in September 1996 by a team of volunteers in the community and it is now staffed by 22 volunteers.

Safer Place Scheme – Humberside Police

Humberside Police has joined forces with a number of local agencies to launch a new scheme in Humberside.  ‘A Safer Place’ aims to help those with learning difficulties, dementia or who are generally vulnerable, by protecting them from being bullied, harassed or becoming confused while they’re out shopping.

Policing the Appleby Fair – Cumbria Constabulary

Travellers and gypsies have held a horse fair at Appleby-in-Westmorland since 1685. Each June, Appleby’s population of 2,500 swells to 30,000 as people gather to celebrate the week-long event.

Operation Chilly – Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour – Avon and Somerset Constabulary

In early 2016, anti-social behaviour became a large scale issue in areas of South Gloucestershire. Every Friday and Saturday night, many calls were taken from residents reporting large groups of young people causing a nuisance which was escalating into crime and disorder. With the issue scoring highest on the Threat, Harm and Risk Matrix for the entire Force it required immediate action.

North Yorkshire Police Cadets

North Yorkshire’s two Police Cadet units are run by volunteer Cadet Leaders.

No Excuse Team – Dorset Police

A team of Special Constables is helping make roads across Dorset safer. They are a crucial part of the No Excuse team, which was re-established in 2014 to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads.

Neighbourhood Watch Provides Crucial Intelligence – Kent Police

A Neighbourhood Watch scheme helped identify and shut down a suspected brothel in Ashford.

Focus on Road Safety – Northumbria Police

Northumbria’s Special Constables organised and ran a policing operation focussing on road safety, to coincide with National Volunteering Week and National Specials Weekend.

Consett SpeedWatch Team – Durham Constabulary

The issue of speeding vehicles in the Consett area was continually being highlighted whenever the police held meetings with local residents. There was a perception that the police were not taking sufficient action to tackle the matter.

Commendations for Specials – Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Three Cambridgeshire Specials received commendations for their contribution to a force operation.

Chinese Help and Information Phone Line – Lancashire Constabulary

The Chinese Help and Information Phone Line has been staffed by volunteers since 2014 to improve communication between the police and the Chinese community. 

Cadets Help Vulnerable People – Derbyshire Police

Derbyshire Cadets Jodie Overbury and Daniel Cairns took on voluntary work experience with a Police Community Support Officer during July 2016.

Appropriate Adult Volunteers – Staffordshire Police

Staffordshire’s Appropriate Adult Volunteers provide assistance to people in custody. They have a unique role in which they support detainees by making sure they understand what is happening and ensuring their rights are respected.

Special Constabulary Recruitment Team to support 2017 Bromsgrove Jobs Fair

On Friday, 3 March 2017, the West Mercia Police Special Constabulary Recruitment Team will take part in the third free Bromsgrove Jobs Fair, organised by the Right Honourable Sajid Javid, who is Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government and the MP for Bromsgrove. The event, which brings together local organisations to assist people…
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Special Constables receive briefing on Warwickshire Police plans

South Warwickshire Police Special Constables were briefed on the force’s vulnerability strategy, Professional Standards and new technology developments, such as Body Worn Video, at a district meeting at Stratford-upon-Avon School on Tuesday, 21 February 2017. Special Constables are unpaid, part-time police officers who work in some of the most important areas of policing, using their…
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West Mercia Police Special Constables praised for Operation Christmas Presence support

West Mercia Police Special Constables have been praised by senior officers for supporting Operation Christmas Presence during the festive period. Operation Christmas Presence, which takes place annually, aims to keep people safe and tackle the issues of alcohol-related violence on the streets, with extra officers in town and city centres from 16 December 2016 to…
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Warwickshire Special Constables praised for Operation Christmas Presence support

Warwickshire Police Special Constables have been praised by senior officers for supporting Operation Christmas Presence during the festive period. Operation Christmas Presence, which takes place annually, aims to keep people safe and tackle the issues of alcohol-related violence on the streets, with extra officers in town centres from 16 December 2016 to 1 January 2017….
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