Police Volunteers Thanked – National Volunteers’ Week 1-12 June 2016

To mark National Volunteer Week 1-12 June 2016 South Wales Police is profiling some of the many amazing volunteers who give up their time to support policing and keep south Wales safe ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To mark National Volunteer Week 1-12 June 2016 South Wales Police is profiling some of the many amazing volunteers who give up their time to support policing and keep south Wales safe. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The force has in excess of 800 volunteers of all ages who make a distinctive contribution to both enhancing our local communities in addressing the issues that affect people directly and supporting the broader policing objective of keeping communities safe. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The volunteer programme established by the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner is delivered at the heart of communities across South Wales, encourages volunteering both from within South Wales Police and from the communities it serves. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Assistant Chief Constable Jon Stratford, force lead on volunteering said: “Volunteers’ Week provides us with a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the enormous contributions, achievements and dedication of over 800 volunteers who give their time, energy and skills to work with us. On behalf of South Wales Police and the team who support our volunteers I offer my sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael stressed the importance of an environment that inspires and enables individuals to make a positive contribution to their communities which builds on the learning from both the NATO summit, London Olympics and more recently the International Association Women Police Officers Conference 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He said: “I have always stressed that volunteering is the essential act of citizenship, benefitting both the volunteer and the community. Volunteers play a vital role in South Wales Police, not only supporting policing and crime reduction but also assisting me in my role. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Independent Animal Welfare Visitors Scheme, for example, helps to give the public confidence that the police dogs and horses, which play such a central role in many policing operations and functions, are properly treated. The Independent Custody Visitor scheme also plays a vital role in raising standards and helping ensure the fair treatment of detainees.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Volunteers contribute to:
• Keeping the organisation in touch with a wider spectrum of the community;
• Developing a bank of experience and expertise to complement that already found within South Wales Police;
• Complementing the work of staff and as a consequence enabling the organisation to achieve more;
• Adding a ‘human touch’, by spending time on vital tasks to compliment the work of paid staff and enhance service delivery ;
• Giving flexibility to the workforce, allowing time and energy to be channeled when and where it is needed and allowing new ideas and projects to be tested. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​