Police Support Volunteers mean business
Thursday, 10 September, 2009
New Business Plan for Police Support Volunteers to be released at NPIA sponsored Conference.
A new business plan which aims to help increase the number of Police Support Volunteers across all forces in England and Wales will be launched at the NPIA's Police Support Volunteers Conference this weekend (11-12 September).
32 forces across the country already have their own volunteer programmes for Police Support Volunteers. The Police Support Volunteer Business Plan sets out a vision where all 43 forces in England and Wales have an active volunteer programme by 2013. The plan focuses on how forces can be supported to help achieve this outcome.
The NPIA will continue to work closely with the Police Support Volunteer Programme Board to support forces to develop initiatives to proactively recruit volunteers and ensure they are used effectively.
There are currently 6,250 Police Support Volunteers throughout England and Wales contributing a great deal to their local forces and communities. Police Support Volunteers increase the capacity of police forces and free up more time for full time officers to focus on frontline duties, which helps to deter criminal activity and reassure local communities.
Engaging Police Support Volunteers is a relatively new concept, with the first programme being run by Kent Police in 1992. Since then, volunteers with their diverse backgrounds and skills have been used to support police officers and civilian staff in a wide range of tasks. These range from providing administrative support to police officers and staff, to public reassurance roles, crime prevention support, and analysing information.
Policing Minister David Hanson MP, said: "Police support volunteers across all levels play a vital role in helping forces provide the best service possible to the public and deliver on local priorities.
"That role is a key part of our vision for policing in the 21st century. I am very pleased to see the work that is going on across England and Wales to make sure we continue to make the most of the contribution volunteers give to the police service."
Chief Constable Peter Neyroud, Chief Executive of the National Policing Improvement Agency, said: "The NPIA is pleased to acknowledge and support the Police Support Volunteer Business Plan and will continue to work in partnership with key stakeholders to achieve the goals set out in the plan.
"Overall numbers of police support volunteers in forces have risen significantly in recent years; the Plan sets out a clear vision for taking advantage of the appetite that exists within individuals and communities as a whole, for providing such support to police forces.
"The business plan provides a realistic and highly commendable approach
