Community Safety Mounted Volunteers

Calling all horse riders! Can you help us put the neigh in our neighbourhoods?

We have launched a new Community Safety Mounted Volunteer scheme (CSMV) across the rural communities of the Humberside area.

We’re looking for volunteers who can actively promote road safety, share information, and report incidents of concern whilst on their regular hacks, helping our rural communities feel safer.

The Mounted Volunteers provide reassurance to residents, promoting trust and confidence in the police whilst enhancing relationships between the police and the community. 

Mounted volunteers MUST own or have access to their own horse, and have access to transport as elements of the training is done at an Equestrian Training Venue.

If you have any questions about the scheme, please contact the [email protected] and we will get back to you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in providing a high visibility mounted presence to provide reassurance to rural areas and help to be the eyes and ears of the community.
• Reduce opportunity for crime by increasing crime prevention advice and awareness.
• Provide Crime Prevention Advice where appropriate and report any unusual/suspicious activity and road-related matters.
• Engage with members of the rural community and help in developing positive relationships between the police and the community.
• Share information with Humberside Police and engage with the Rural Task Force, Neighbourhood Policing Teams and local farm/country/horse watch schemes.
• Attend any community events and promote the role and raise awareness of equine and rural related crime.
• Actively promote road safety for horse-riders
• Update Duty Sheet with volunteer hours and activities.
• Attend and complete relevant training for the role.

What the role requires:

• Own, or have access to a suitable horse to undertake mounted rural patrols.
• Have access to transport for both horse and rider
• All volunteers must have their own Public Liability Insurance – volunteers are covered by Police insurance whilst undertaking the role, but must also hold separate public liability insurance
• A keen interest in preventing Rural, Equine and Wildlife Crime.
• Attained the British Horse Society Ride Safe Award or be willing to undertake it.
• Minimum five years of riding experience which includes both riding on a highway and rural (open farmland/bridleways etc).
• Willing to undertake an induction and horse/equipment checks as required.

Want to know more? Trot along to our open vacancies page for more information and details on how to apply.

FAQs:

Will I be expected to challenge behaviour?

The role is completed during a normal day-to-day hack on your horse on a ‘see it, report it’ basis.

Riders must not ever challenge behaviour directly or become involved in conflict. 

There is an expectation that any criminal offence, or incident of concern is reported to the Police – full guidance on how to do this through the scheme is provided during the induction training days.

Will I be covered by Police Insurance?

All police volunteers and their horses are covered by police insurance whilst completing a duty, however volunteers must also hold their own Public Liability Insurance for their horse.

For any incident that arises as a consequence of completing a CSMV duty, volunteers are covered by Police Insurance. However in the case of an incident outside of this – such as a horse causing injury to someone, or damage to something that is not related to a Police duty – such as a result of bad behaviour/rider error/spooking/bolting, the rider must have appropriate 3rd Party Liability insurance in place.

What equipment will you provide?

We will provide you with high visibility clothing for you and your horse and a two-way hat camera, plus First Aid training and all mounted Volunteers will compete the British Horse Society ‘Ride Safe Award.’

Why is the British Horse Society 'Ride Safe Award' needed?

It is so we can ensure all our riders have a high standard of road safety awareness.