Humberside Police - protecting communities, targeting criminals

Role for Volunteers

Primarily it should be stressed that Volunteers are not there to replace paid employees, Volunteers complement or support them.

One of the great strengths of a Volunteer is their flexibility to meet the diverse needs within our Force. Each NPT, shift, team or department works slightly different from each other. It is this very difference that keeps us one step ahead of the criminal fraternity and helps us engage with the different communities we police. 

They should be involved in meaningful and appropriate roles that bring added value to the Force. 

Creativity and innovation should be the latch words when thinking about the roles a Volunteer can assist us with. 

Some of these roles are:

  • Front counter assistance – opening of police offices / one stop shops / cop shops / community contact points in rural areas, residential areas, towns etc.
  • Contacting the community and advising them of any initiatives and providing feedback where appropriate.
  • Organising meetings, marketing them, taking the minutes, typing and distributing them.
  • Providing administrative support to officers and staff  - including filing, photocopying, typing, in putting data onto crime systems (WAD) (839s).
  • Supporting CCTV operators at times of high demand and monitoring / reviewing of CCTV tapes.
  • Assisting with crime prevention and community safety initiatives.
  • Recording and storing lost / found and property other than found.
  • Providing specialist skills, e.g. language, computer and IT skills.
  • Assisting with minor investigation work.
  • Undertaking elimination fingerprints.
  • Helping with PR and media work – including sending out press releases, taking photographs, leaflet distribution / production etc.
  • Supporting Neighbourhood Watch schemes. 

 How will this add value to the Force?

  • Liaising with specific sections of the community eg pub watch, shop and business watch
  • Website design
  • Mentoring of Police Officers
  • Assisting the Special Constabulary
  • Supporting criminal justice units by improving the service delivery to victims and witnesses
  • Specialist roles – forensic accountants, accountants volunteering on complex fraud cases, analysing information and acting as advisors
  • Management consultants – advising senior management teams on business management and best practice
  • Processing Crimestopper reports
  • Keeping and maintaining a “running log” for Dispersal Orders and compiling associated statistics
  • Producing a telephone folder – useful numbers book from the separate folders kept by individual officers
  • Compiling information from surveys
  • Quality of Service call backs
  • Keeping a running log of proactive policing
     

Roles should directly contribute to core policing activities and have clearly defined outcomes. 

To ensure that Volunteers support the strategic needs of the Force, roles should reflect priorities both within the Force and our local communities. 

This gives Volunteers meaning and purpose, and ensure roles are appropriate to local needs. 

It is important that Volunteers understand their place in the bigger picture, and how their contribution benefits our Force and our local communities. 

If you would be interested in becoming a Police Service Volunteer please forward your details to: recruitment@humberside.pnn.police.uk.