You can either become one of our Police Community Volunteers, or a Special Constable (that’s what we call our Voluntary Police Officers). Depending on the time you can spare, both are a great way to give back to the community.
Police Community Volunteers play a vital role in assisting with regular police work, doing anything from monitoring CCTV or answering calls at reception, to helping develop our work with the local community. Wherever your skills lie, we’ll make the most of them. And if you don’t have any relevant previous experience, then we’ll give you the training you need.
Our volunteers come from all kinds of backgrounds. You might be unemployed and looking to brush up on your skills. You could be retired and looking for an opportunity to meet new people and gain a different kind of experience. Or perhaps you’re thinking of joining the police and want to see what it’s like firsthand. It doesn’t even matter how much time you can offer us. Because the only requirements we have are that you’re at least 18 years old, are prepared to undergo security vetting, and are fit enough to cope with life in a busy working environment. Find out more about becoming a Police Community Volunteer.
Special Constables must commit to 16 hours a month, and the amount of police work you can become involved in is huge. In fact you do exactly the same job as a police officer – respond to incidents, gather information, make arrests and give evidence in court. The only difference is that you’re always accompanied by a regular officer. You’ll discover it’s a great way to add to your CV, and we’ll schedule the training around you. Find out more about becoming a Special Constable.
Being a Special is a volunteer role like no other, especially now that Special Constables have the chance to specialise. Depending on your background, you could use your skills to concentrate on Rural Crime, Hi Tech Crime, Economic Crime or Distraction Crime. Find out more about becoming a Rural Special Constable.