Dr. Melissa Pepper, a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Greenwich, discusses her research on volunteers in policing. She explains the role of police support volunteers (PSVs) in the UK, who provide non-uniformed support to local police services.
Melissa emphasizes the importance of infrastructure and good volunteer management in ensuring the success of volunteer programs. She also highlights the impact of volunteer police cadets, who contribute to community events and gain valuable experiences.
Melissa’s research with Community Speedwatch volunteers revealed their motivations and the contributions they make to road safety. She emphasizes the need for academic research to understand and support volunteers in policing, and the importance of learning from different models and approaches around the world.
Takeaways
- Volunteers in policing play a significant role in supporting local police services and communities.
- Infrastructure and good volunteer management are crucial for the success of volunteer programs.
- Volunteer police cadets contribute to community events and gain valuable experiences.
- Community Speedwatch volunteers monitor traffic speeds and contribute to road safety.
- Academic research is important for understanding and supporting volunteers in policing.
- Learning from different models and approaches around the world can enhance volunteer programs.
Sound Bites
- “It has to be somebody’s job to worry about volunteers.”
- “Personalised volunteer management is what makes volunteering work well in policing.”
- “Volunteer police cadets contribute to community events and gain valuable experiences.”
Chapters
00:00. Introduction and Background
01:55. Volunteers in Policing: Police Support Volunteers (PSVs)
06:28. Volunteers in Policing: Volunteer Police Cadets
08:30. Volunteers in Policing: Community Speedwatch
16:21. The Importance of Academic Research in Volunteers and Policing
18:40. International Perspectives on Volunteers in Policing
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