Police Support Volunteers
Become a PSV (Police Support Volunteer)
Police support volunteers (PSVs) undertake a variety of roles to support and enhance the day-to-day work carried out by police officers and police staff. By offering their time and energy in these roles, PSVs help to reduce demand. This includes resolving policing issues, enhancing service delivery, and strengthening the links between policing and the community.
As a police support volunteer, you’ll be provided with training relevant to your role, and any equipment necessary for your role. You will also receive out of pocket travel expenses.
We have a range of different PSV roles across the force, our main roles are shown below. Where PSV vacancies become available, we will advertise these on our job vacancies page, just look for the volunteer roles in the list. We look for people to join our team on a long-term basis, who are committed, motivated, flexible, and have good interpersonal skills. We welcome individuals from all walks of life and backgrounds.
Being a police support volunteer allows you to bring along and transfer relevant skills, experience, and knowledge from your day job and/or previous life experience. You’ll also be giving something back to the communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Why Volunteer?
Gain an insight into the world of policing as a volunteer. Whether you’re interested in a career with us or just want to learn more about what we do – volunteering allows you to see ‘behind the scenes’.
Personal growth and development, use your existing skills and gain new, transferable skills and experience new things. We do our best to help you develop the skills you want across a variety of volunteer roles.
Most employers see volunteering as an essential component of any CV. Volunteering will also give you strong examples that can be valuable in interviews.
Meet new people, you’ll meet and work alongside like-minded people who are committed to making a difference in our communities. It’s a fantastic opportunity to network with people from all walks of life.
Role opportunities
General and specific admin support within teams including our Neighbourhood Policing Team, Investigations, Roads Policing Unit.
Vehicle Maintenance – supporting our frontline officers with completing maintenance checks on our fleet of vehicles.
Chaplaincy support – our Volunteer chaplains provide safe, independent, confidential support and understanding to all, whether or not they have a defined religious belief. 1Chaplains regularly visit our police stations and offices, they will be able to accompany officers on patrol to get an insight into their job, and act as a resource to line managers and commanders for advice or assistance and are here to offer a listening ear to anyone of any faith or none.
Mounted Rural Patrol Volunteers conduct hi-visibility patrols on horseback. They support the Constabulary by being the eyes and ears of our rural areas which are not easily accessible in a vehicle. MRP volunteers must own a horse or have permission from owner of another horse to undertake mounted rural patrols.
Humane Animal Dispatchers are specifically trained volunteers who support the constabulary when we receive a report of an injured deer. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary recognises its obligations under the Animal Welfare Act, Protection of Animals Act, Deer Act and other relevant legislation and therefore will deploy a HAD volunteer to the scene. HAD volunteers must hold a shotgun certificate and a firearms certificate with an open condition. They must also be a holder of DMQ HAD Award or equivalent HAD Qualification recognised by a UK Police force
Expectation
Police support volunteers are not warranted police officers, and possess no policing powers. They perform a range of supporting tasks and functions which better enable officers and staff to focus on their core duties.
PSVs are not substitutes for police officers and police staff. They are an important complement to the existing force resources and to the local community.
Even though they’re volunteers, police support volunteers are members of the ‘policing family’ and have the same responsibilities placed upon them as our officers and staff. They must apply the same rules of conduct, and adhere to the same professional standards.
The ‘Code of Ethics’ also provides the guiding principles for all those who work and volunteer in policing in England and Wales. It ensures that by acting fairly, ethically and in the public’s best interests, the police can help increase public confidence and engagement.
Eligibility
Nationality
You need to be a British or Irish citizen in order to apply, or a member of the EU/EEA or Switzerland with the required settlement status (Right to Work) or Indefinite Leave to Remain. Alternatively you may be a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national resident in the UK who is free of restrictions.
Residency
You need to have lived in the UK for the last 3 years prior to applying, in order that we can carry out vetting checks on you.
Criminal record
Ideally you should not have a criminal record, but some minor offences as a juvenile may not exclude you.
Membership of BNP or similar
Are you or have you ever been a member of BNP or similar organisation whose constitution, aims, objects or pronouncements may contradict the duty to promote race equality? If so, you won’t be able to become a police support volunteer.
Age
You must be 18 or over but if you are over 13 but under 18, please consider the Volunteer Police Cadets Scheme.
Qualifications
You do not need any specific qualifications to join us as a police support volunteer. For some roles, you may need to have existing skills or experience in order to apply.
Recruitment process
All candidates looking to join Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary are required to undergo a set recruitment process. This includes;
- Submitting an online application
- Attending a face to face interview
- Pre-join checks, involving a police vetting check and references
- Successful candidates will be invited to attend an induction.
The Equality Act 2010 allows us to promote equality within Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. We do this by adopting positive action to support people from under-represented groups. We aim to recruit talented people with a diverse range of skills and experience and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our Positive Action Team are available to provide support through the application and assessment process. You can contact them at: positive.action@hampshire.police.uk
FAQs
When can I volunteer?
We are happy to receive any free time that you may have, but generally our police support volunteers give a minimum of 2-4 hours and a maximum of 15 hours per week.
Do I have to wear a Uniform?
Certain roles require a uniform or kit to be worn, which we provide. These include our chaplains and mounted rural patrol volunteers. All other volunteering roles we would ask you to wear smart casual clothing.
What Training will I receive?
Once you have been offered a police support volunteer (PSV) role, you will be invited to attend an induction, There you will be given an overview of the force, responsibilities of the role, rules of conduct and professional standards. You will be provided with access to IT systems (where required) and receive the relevant e-learning training on these.
There may be additional training required for some roles, such as access to bespoke computer systems, which your line manager will arrange for you locally.
The majority of training for your new role will be ‘on the job’ training.
You will be trained to ensure that you are equipped to undertake the role that you have been offered.
Do I have expenses paid?
Once you have started volunteering with us, you will be able to claim travel expenses for any out of pocket expenses you occur.
What support is available?
We have dedicated citizens in policing co-ordinator in each area who support volunteers through the recruitment process and into their volunteer role. They are there to advise on all things from opportunities available, the vetting process and any wellbeing issues once in the role. Once in your role you will also have your line manager to support and task you on a duty basis.
As a part of the policing family, once in role you will be able to access our Wellbeing support package also.
If you have any general queries about becoming a police support volunteer, please email hq.volunteers@hampshire.police.uk