CSV, the UK’s largest volunteering charity, publishes a report today (Wednesday 6th December 2006) outlining how volunteers can help in the fight against crime by supporting police officers with their investigations and freeing them to spend more time on the beat.

The report, Tackling crime together – volunteers and the police services, outlines how volunteers can help officers focus on combating crime by helping to re-open front desks, liaising with witnesses and victims as well as helping with local intelligence gathering and translation services.

The report also highlights the successes of the Tempe Police Department in Arizona where 1,000 volunteers help 2,000 police staff assist stranded motorists, care for police horses and even reduce car crime through the placing of ‘bait’ vehicles in high-crime areas.

In the UK, the Lancashire Constabulary is helping to lead the way with volunteers and has visited San Diego Police Department to see first hand the potential of a properly funded volunteer programme. The Lancashire Constabulary volunteer scheme currently has 540 volunteers giving 3,626 hours each month and is overseen by 7 uniformed volunteer co-ordinators.

Lord Toby Harris is CSV’s Ambassador for London and the Home Secretary's nominee on the Metropolitan Police Authority since July 2004. Lord Harris said: "The number of trained Special Constables supporting police officers on patrol is now rising again after many years of decline and some local police station front offices are now being kept open using a rota of community volunteers. These are some of the more "visible" ways in which people volunteer, but there are many more that are less visible but also have a real benefit to the police and the communities they serve."

Recommendations in the report include:

• The need to establish proper structures, policies and procedures within police forces before recruiting volunteers

• The need to get police officers onside

• Ensuring that there is support at every level for involving volunteers and that fellow officers are informed about the scheme

• Involving officers who will work with the volunteers in the selection process

• Considering using uniformed officers as volunteer co-ordinators to demonstrate police commitment

The report spells out how volunteers bring added value to the work of the police. Volunteers help improve perceptions of the police and policing by acting as a bridge between the police and the community. Volunteers also help boost diversity by attracting citizens from many different backgrounds, including race and religion.

Volunteers can also improve local intelligence. A volunteer accompanying a member of the neighbourhood policing team is often able to provide information, perspective and contacts within the community that would otherwise have been harder, or even impossible to come by. Volunteers can also provide ongoing extended support to members of the public going through the criminal justice system and the courts.

Case study of volunteers in action:

Lancashire Constabulary Community Volunteer Scheme, Blackpool

Recognising how members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community had been traditionally reluctant to report homophobic incidents to the police, Lancashire Constabulary set up the Blue Phone. The Blue Phone is a mobile number answered 24 hours a day by a team of 5 volunteers and gives victims an alternative to calling 999. The volunteers have increased the confidence of the LGBT community to report crime and improved perceptions of policing in the area.

Click here to download: 'Tackling crime together - volunteers and police services'

Further press information or to receive a hard copy of the report: Jason Tanner, Head of Press on 020 7812 0038 / 07941 433598 or jtanner@csv.org.uk or Paul Donohoe, Senior Press Officer on 020 7812 0037 pdonohoe@csv.org.uk
Latest press releases: www.csv.org.uk/press

Note for editors:

1) CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Each year 227,000 people give 5 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. CSV trains 12,750 people of all ages. www.csv.org.uk