Dr. Martin Wright discusses with Iain Britton the innovative concept of virtual volunteering in policing, highlighting its potential to engage the public, particularly students, in addressing crime and community safety issues.

He reflects on his extensive background in policing and academia, emphasizing the need for new approaches to volunteer engagement in light of current challenges faced by police services.

The discussion covers the implementation of virtual volunteering, its benefits, and future expansion plans, including international collaboration.

Second Episode 24th March.

Takeaways

• Virtual volunteering allows direct engagement between police and the public.
• Students provide critical thinking and fresh perspectives on policing issues.
• The traditional forms of police volunteering are becoming less effective.
• Virtual volunteering can help rebuild trust and legitimacy in policing.
• Engaging students creates a safe environment for police interaction.
• Future plans include expanding virtual volunteering to the general public.
• International collaboration is essential for addressing transnational crime.
• Crowdsourced solutions can enhance police effectiveness.
• Virtual volunteering can attract diverse voices to policing discussions.
• The initiative aims to innovate and improve community safety efforts.

Sound Bites

• “Students are taught to be critical thinkers.”
• “Virtual volunteering has the ability to mass engage.”
• “Police volunteering is a neglected area.”

Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction to Virtual Volunteering
• 05:18 – The Concept of Virtual Volunteering
• 09:01 – Engaging Students in Policing
• 11:32 – Expanding Virtual Volunteering Beyond Students
• 13:01 – The Future of Police Volunteering

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