VOLUNTEERING Issue 27 Autumn MATTERS 2019 Centre pages Meet the mini police Welcome VOLUNTEERING MATTERS DCC Debbie Ford - Northumbria Chief Officer North East Regional Citizens in Policing Lead and National Lead for Police Support Volunteers Following on from my last this very important strand of update it has been encouraging policing and I am looking to see the great work of the forward to working with Citizens in Policing Teams and regional partners in developing their volunteer programmes, new strategies to progress ideas which continue to develop and and develop best practice flourish across the North East. themes. Northumbria's own volunteers The National Police Support have recently been highlighted Volunteers' meeting will be held on, “Cops in the North”, TV in Newcastle on the 26th And finally, good luck to all programme for Operation September 2019, and I am those nominated at the Lord Checkpoint, which assists local delighted to extend a warm Ferrer's Awards and thank-you rural based police officers in the welcome to those attending, to to all the volunteers who prevention and detection of collectively explore the many strengthen our police Forces' crime, producing some fantastic positive examples of PSV work nationally. You really are a results and partnerships. nationally, which will assist the source of inspiration! At the recent meeting of the working group to further North East Regional Citizens in develop this area, to achieve the Policing Group in York, Forces vision set by Chief Constable showed great enthusiasm for Lisa Winward. GMP Volunteer Team nominated for Force 'Stars Awards’ Amanda, Mo and Amy support the central Citizens in Policing team and were finalists in recognition of their outstanding contributions to policing in Greater Manchester. Volunteering Matters has been produced with support from North Yorkshire Design & Print team and Volunteer Practitioners. Front Page: Please send your articles to the Editor: GMP Police Support Volunteer Dennis Graham [email protected] 2 SPOTLIGHT on Cumbria Police Support Volunteer Kevin became a Police Support Volunteer (PSV) in May 2017 and joined the team in the Public Protection Unit in South Cumbria with a specific responsibility around the installation, review and removal of TecSOS devices. Why did you become a Police Support Volunteer and the best bit about it? I became a Police Support Volunteer when I saw the role advertised in my local newspaper; I thought that it would be a challenge, but something that I could do and it would be Kevin's role is to support detectives to improve interesting. community contact, confidence, satisfaction What do you get from being a Police levels and to reduce risk to victims of Domestic Support Volunteer? Abuse with his main role being the installation and removal of the TecSOS that are a vital I find being a Police Support Volunteer very instrument in keeping vulnerable victims of satisfying and worthwhile. I enjoy meeting people domestic violence safe. and get to learn how some police work is carried out. It is also a privilege to work alongside the Kevin is committed to his role and can be called Police and help people in need within my local upon at short notice to come in and fit devices community. that are required urgently. He has shown an ability to interact with the victims he comes into How do you fit in being a Police Support contact with in a professional and sensitive Volunteer with your paid work and manner. family/home commitments? Kevin recently undertook a review of all devices My paid job is as a Supervisor in a residential on behalf of the Detective Sergeant in order to home for learning disabilities and mental health. prepare for an upgrade, spending hours of his My varied shift patterns allow me quite a few own time undertaking this and produced an spare hours within the week to carry out my accurate and concise report to be presented to volunteer work. the Senior Management Team. What being Cumbria's PSV of the year means to you? Kevin is Cumbria's PSV I am very pleased to receive the Police Support Volunteer of the Year Award. It is very satisfying of the Year 2019. to be recognised for the voluntary work I enjoy so much. This award has given me more enthusiasm to carry on with my voluntary role and to also help & represent Cumbria Police. 3 Police Support Volunteer case study Hollie Griss, Police support Volunteer Hollie joined the Police Support Volunteer My time volunteering for Suffolk Constabulary scheme in 2018 after deciding to include a 'Year has given me a great chance to work on and in Industry' as part of her degree programme. improve my journalistic writing, interview skills "When I first contacted the Specials and and use of software packages, as well as the Volunteers Team I was unsure which department I experience of working in a busy office and gaining wanted to volunteer in, however by talking to a an insight into the policing world. It has also given member of the team, we worked out which one me a higher level of self-confidence and I feel so would be most suited to me and went from much more prepared for life after university! there." Volunteering gives you so many opportunities Hollie joined the Corporate Communications and a level of flexibility that you wouldn't have in department where her key focus was working on a normal job. internal communications. She would put together I couldn't have asked for a better place to spend weekly briefing documents, publish intranet my year, or better people to spend it with, and articles, and write and design pieces for the will look back on my year in Industry as one of the internal magazine. highlights of my degree." In order to be able to do these tasks, Hollie spent time with different departments, speaking to If you would like further information about officers and staff about their roles and gathering volunteering for Suffolk Constabulary, please an insight into lots of different aspects of policing. contact us: "I volunteered two days a week, alongside [email protected] another voluntary role and part time job, which or call us on 01473 613589. amounted to a normal working week. I was able to balance my personal commitments, and taking time off was never an issue. Previous 4 page GMP Volunteers receive commendation from Chief Constable A band of volunteers who were recruited by The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester gives Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to give peer-to- out commendations throughout the year, peer support to older victims of fraud and cyber- recognising members of the public and officers crime have been awarded a Chief's for an impressive contribution to their Commendation at ceremony recently. community. The Senior Scam Busters, which comprises of 13 predominantly older and retired people, are Chief Cons trained to give fraud advice and guidance as well table Ian Hopkins said: “Keeping Great as signpost people to specific agencies when er Manches longer jus ter safe is no necessary. t a police responsibility and volunteers such as the Sc More than 1,000 reports of fraud and scams are Team are crucial t am Busters o supporting curren recorded every month across Greater Manchester demand and increasing our engagement and a large percentage of these are made by with the communities we ser t ve. older members of the public who have fallen “I am deligh victim to telephone scams, online scams and ted to presen Busters Team with this award.t the ScTheiram doorstep crime. contribution has been fundamen The team identifies and contact victims over 60 helping t tal in o reduce victimisation and years old from the reports, giving practical help preventing fraud which c an be and advice over the telephone to reduce the risk devastating to victims financially as well of them falling victim again. as mentally.” Between them the volunteers have volunteered nearly 700 hours between November 2018 and April 2019, including giving presentations at community and charity events, participating in days of action and signposting victims to relevant support services. 5 Mini police from Gateshead Become Social Media Soap Stars She said: “We wanted to hammer home Mini Police in the North East have helped really simple messages about ho can help t w we all their local Force to make a soap opera in a o prevent crime happening t our homes. And we needed a fresh, o bid to help crime prevention efforts. creative way of doing it – who be help than our f tter to Northumbria Police recruited budding actors antastic Mini P from Chopwell Mini Police to help remind the olice? “We're very proud of our Mini P public about basic ways to prevent a burglary in Northumbria and we wan olice in their home. them a special project t ted to give o work on. By all The Force came up with the idea of producing its accounts Harvey and Thomas had a very own drama which they've named 'Canny fantastic day and the school are ver y Avenue'. proud of them.” There was an o Nine-year-old pupils Harvey and Thomas from verwhelmingly positive Chopwell Primary School were the stars of the response from the public on social media show. with comments such as - “More of the same please NP!” and “ It was made entirely in-house and had support W absolut ell done kids, from housing developer Bellway, who lent ely brilliant.” Northumbria a show home from their new estate for the filming of the drama.