Exploring the police support volunteer experience: findings from a national survey

Abstract

There are an estimated 8,000 Police Support Volunteers (PSVs) in England and Wales, contributing around 650,000 hours each year to an expanding variety of tasks to support their local constabularies. Despite this, the evidence base around the experiences of being a PSV is remarkably limited. Drawing on findings from the first national survey of police volunteers in England and Wales, undertaken in early 2016 with just over 1,000 PSV responses, this article explores key factors that are associated with the overall experience of being a PSV pointing towards the significance of management, support, supervision, connection, contribution and development on volunteer morale. The article sets these findings within the strategic context of future developments for PSVs, considers practical actions for improving volunteer experience, and highlights the importance of further research into being a volunteer in policing.

Police volunteers in the Netherlands: a study on policy and practice

“…In addition, the Dutch police deploy Police Support Volunteers (PSVs): public-spirited citizens conducting complementary 'back office' duties such as filling in forms, staffing reception desks, performing computer-based work and CCTV monitoring, or offering specific expertise to the police, for example about the complexities behind financial crimes (see e.g. Bullock (2017), Callender et al (2018) and Millie (2018) for similar kinds of PSVs in England and Wales). We look at both types of police volunteers.…”

Recruiting police support volunteers for their professional knowledge and skills: A pilot study

“…Although not a significant difference, this in part supports Millie (2016), suggesting that people would see more value in volunteering if the police service explored and was then able to utilise their professional skills. This proportion of respondents who could potentially be recruited as PSVs also exceeds the findings of Callender et al (2018b) who suggest that currently just over half of all PSVs questioned felt that their existing skills were both recognised and utilised.…”

“…These roles include special constables (SC), who when on duty have the warranted powers of a regular police officer and police support volunteers (PSVs), who freely donate their time to support police officers and staff by performing roles which will free up officers and staff time. There are 8000 PSVs across England and Wales (Callender et al, 2018b), who conduct activities such as completing administrative duties, supporting criminal investigations, monitoring CCTV or engaging with local communities, with other opportunities identified to match specific skills with voluntary roles available (Citizens in Policing, 2019). This research focused on the role of PSVs, as SCs have defined duty requirements and therefore the individual's ability to utilise their professional skills within these roles are immediately limited.…”

The Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector: Concepts and an Agenda for an Emerging Field

“…Additionally, police support volunteers were introduced in 1992, and now 8,000 such volunteers (who do not have police powers) contribute around 650,000 hours to policing annually (Callendar et al . ). They have received little research, scrutiny or debate (Bullock ).…”