What you could be doing | Police Support Volunteers
IT QUICKLY BECOMES CLEAR THAT NOT EVERYONE WHO FIGHTS CRIME WEARS A UNIFORM
Police Support Volunteers
The Police Support Volunteers scheme is ideal for people who want to volunteer to get involved in policing and make a difference to their community. Being a PSV is about giving up some of your spare time in a variety of ways while working alongside police officers, PCSOs, special constables and police staff to protect the public and cut down crime. It’s also about bringing a wide range of skills and experience that can add huge value to the work of our trained police officers and staff.
The activities we’re looking for volunteers to undertake range from leading our cadet cohorts to supporting officers in crime prevention campaigns and assisting with police training as a role actor. The aim is to give you the chance to get involved with policing in Derbyshire, help reduce the amount of time officers spend in the police station and enhance the service we already provide.
It can also help your professional development, boost your CV, and give you a real insight into policing in your area. You’ll work between two and four hours per week (averaged out over a 12 month period). The hours you actually do will be negotiated between yourself and your main point of day-to-day contact.
Why join the Police Support Volunteers?
We appreciate that not everyone wishes to wear a uniform and undergo extensive training in order to volunteer. We’ve therefore developed a number of meaningful roles for police support volunteers to help us achieve our ambitions.
You could find yourself working alongside your area’s Safer Neighbourhood Team, helping to organise events and crime prevention campaigns, assisting with police training as a role actor, or possibly monitoring CCTV cameras to get hands-on with reducing crime.
Whatever your role, you’ll make a real contribution to the success of the organisation by bringing communities into policing and policing into communities. You’ll also be able to improve your physical and mental health while doing something worthwhile in your spare time.
Frequently asked questions
Volunteers are members of the community who, following training, make an invaluable contribution by giving up their time in a diverse range of roles alongside police officers and police staff. Our volunteer programme gives members of the public the opportunity to use their time and skills for the benefit of their communities and in a way that is interesting and enjoyable. Tasks undertaken by volunteers are intended to support the work of police officers and police staff. Their valuable contribution is not in any way a substitute or an alternative for the work carried out by full and part-time staff.
Academic qualifications are not necessary, however it is essential you’re honest, have integrity and possess basic numeracy and literacy skills. You’ll also need a positive and friendly approach towards the public, the ability to work in a team and a willingness and enthusiasm to learn new skills.
Between two and four hours per week (averaged out over a 12 month period). The hours you actually do will be negotiated between yourself and the person identified as your main point of day-to-day contact.
Yes. Derbyshire Police has liability insurance cover.
A full medical is not necessary. However, as part of the application process you will be required to complete a Self Declaration Form. Only in certain circumstances, you’ll be required to see the police Occupational Health Nurse/Advisor to undertake a health and well-being screening check.
Yes, the police will need to complete a check on both you and your immediate family. You will, at times, have access to confidential information and for this reason the checks are common practice.
Where appropriate you’ll be issued with a uniform, which comprises of a polo shirt. This enables the general public to recognise that you are a police support volunteer. You'll also be issued with a Derbyshire police identification badge.
Training is an important part of our volunteer programme. On appointment, you’ll be expected to attend an induction event in order to brief you on certain expectations the force places on all our staff. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to undertake the duties of a volunteer without completing certain elements of the training programme such as Data Protection, Health and Safety and Diversity (Equal Opportunities & Community & Race Relations). Other elements of training available may include basic procedures such as: communications; including the use of radio and telephone; conflict management/diffusion; first aid (preservation of life) and instruction on how to use/access the emergency and security equipment.
During your induction training, travelling expenses will be paid. Once induction is complete, you’ll be reimbursed day-to-day travel to and from the police station or offices for your normal duty at the rate of 45p per mile. If you use public transport then the bus fare can be claimed. No claims can be made in respect of using a taxi or similar mode of transport.
What do you need?
You don’t need any formal qualifications to become a PSV and you won’t be expected to undertake any tasks that you’re not qualified or trained to do. We’ll also provide you with training and any out-of-pocket expenses you incur. The main criteria for volunteers are:
You must be aged 16 or over to apply for role actor or wildlife volunteer vacancies. All other vacancies have a minimum age of 18. There is no upper age limit.
You must be a UK Citizen, EU Citizen with EU Settled or Pre-Settled status, a Commonwealth Citizen or Foreign National with no restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom. Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should have lived here for the three years immediately preceding your application.
All volunteers will be subject to vetting.
