Thames Valley Police covers the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The police force area covers 2,216 square miles in the south east of England.  The resident population is ethnically diverse and is increased by university students and the large numbers who visit, socialise in, commute into, or travel through the area each year.

They have a very proactive approach to volunteering and community engagement with a long standing Special Constabulary and a Police Support Volunteer programme that has been in place since 1997.  The Police Cadet programme is the newest form of volunteering and has been in place across the force since 2014.  Across these schemes there are approximately 1200 volunteers, and in addition, Thames Valley Police also works with over 10,000 external volunteers from organisations such as Neighbourhood Watch, Community Forums, Independent Advisory Groups and partner volunteering organisations.

Volunteers support a wide range of departments and teams across the force area and are involved in tasks as diverse as puppy socialising, administration, training, roads policing as well as providing a critical friend role.  Their support and the continued development of the roles they undertake is a vital part of the Community Resilience strategy, aimed at making communities stronger and safer.

Across the range of volunteering options, Thames Valley Police works with volunteers from the age of 13 onwards and from all communities.  Their contribution is celebrated annually through the Community Policing Awards and the Force Open Day , which provides an opportunity for the public to see the wide range of tasks they undertake.

The opportunities for volunteering roles are wide ranging and they welcome applications from individuals with specialised skills as well as those reflected in advertised vacancies.