The role of Police Support Volunteers

General Overview

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, resolve policing issues, enhance service delivery, and strengthen the links between policing and the community.

As a Police Support Volunteer, you’ll be provided with training relevant to your role, a PSV uniform (t-shirt and fleece), and any other equipment necessary for your role.  You will also receive out-of-pocket expenses.

GMP have a range of different PSV roles across the Force.  Where PSV vacancies become available (and are advertised), we look for people to join our current 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 and give something back to the communities of Greater Manchester.

The Expectation

We are happy to receive any free time that you may have, but generally our Police Support Volunteers give 2-4 hours per week of their time.

The majority of our PSV opportunities need daytime/weekday availability, however there are a small number of roles, such as Volunteer Police Cadets – Assistant Team Leader, which would be evening/weekend volunteering.

We do expect that if you schedule a duty, that you attend and undertake the tasks that are assigned to you, as events and activities are often planned and resourced in advance.

Duties of a Police Support Volunteer

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, but are an important complement to the existing force resources and to the local community.

We have a variety of PSV roles across the Force, including:

• Administrative support roles in various Departments/Divisions
• Volunteer Police Cadet Team Leader
• Museum Volunteer
• Community Speedwatch Volunteer
• Fraud Engagement Volunteer

Duties of PSVs therefore vary, depending on the role being undertaken.

Responsibilities of the role

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, so 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, ensuring that by acting fairly, ethically and in the public’s best interests, the police can help increase public confidence and engagement.

Further Information

If you have any general queries about becoming a Police Support Volunteer, please email us.