Volunteers req to work speed cameras. Apply within
Discussion
Volunteer police helpers sought
A pilot scheme which will see volunteers invited to carry out police duties is being introduced in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
It will see dozens of people taken on to help victims of crime work inside police stations and operate speed cameras, all for no pay.
The scheme originating from the US has also been trialled in Lancashire.
Both Notts and Lancs police say the programme is very different to being a special constable.
The aim of the project is to allow people to see the police from the inside
Insp Dean Brown
Insp Mary Cowley of Lancashire Police said: "We're actually carrying out an evaluation at the moment to determine exactly what a difference they're making.
"Certainly anecdotally from members of our staff who have volunteers working for them, they say quite explicitly that they don't know how they managed before having the volunteer.
"Initial feedback from the community is also very positive."
These new volunteers will not be given the same powers to arrest and detain someone, as a special constable can.
Neither will they be given a uniform to wear.
Lancashire currently has more than 300 voluntary workers helping behind the scenes.
Paperwork support
Insp Dean Brown from Nottinghamshire Police said: "The volunteers are not expected to undertake the same sort of tasks as specials.
"We're looking at them updating victims of crime, letting people know how we're progressing with an investigation, telling them where we are with it and getting more information from them.
"At the moment we're looking at that as an admin, office based role.
"We're not intending that people wear uniforms but there may be roles where we have to identify that these are police volunteers and that depends on the role if they're working in the community.
"The aim of the project is to allow people to see the police from the inside."
---------------------------------------------------
A pilot scheme which will see volunteers invited to carry out police duties is being introduced in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
It will see dozens of people taken on to help victims of crime work inside police stations and operate speed cameras, all for no pay.
The scheme originating from the US has also been trialled in Lancashire.
Both Notts and Lancs police say the programme is very different to being a special constable.
The aim of the project is to allow people to see the police from the inside
Insp Dean Brown
Insp Mary Cowley of Lancashire Police said: "We're actually carrying out an evaluation at the moment to determine exactly what a difference they're making.
"Certainly anecdotally from members of our staff who have volunteers working for them, they say quite explicitly that they don't know how they managed before having the volunteer.
"Initial feedback from the community is also very positive."
These new volunteers will not be given the same powers to arrest and detain someone, as a special constable can.
Neither will they be given a uniform to wear.
Lancashire currently has more than 300 voluntary workers helping behind the scenes.
Paperwork support
Insp Dean Brown from Nottinghamshire Police said: "The volunteers are not expected to undertake the same sort of tasks as specials.
"We're looking at them updating victims of crime, letting people know how we're progressing with an investigation, telling them where we are with it and getting more information from them.
"At the moment we're looking at that as an admin, office based role.
"We're not intending that people wear uniforms but there may be roles where we have to identify that these are police volunteers and that depends on the role if they're working in the community.
"The aim of the project is to allow people to see the police from the inside."
---------------------------------------------------
Think I've already met one of these hapless folk with too much time on their hands and insufficient judgement on how best to use it. Driving through what I now know to be a trial area I happened upon a person standing at the roadside in dayglo jacket but clearly not plod - bare head, no rank, no plod paraphernalia at all. He suddenly took aim and shot a car coming the other way with what looked like a hairdryer mk 1. This was hilarious Buzz Lightyear stuff, but it became more surreal when I drew nearly level with him and we engaged eye contact. He jolted into Space Ranger mode and shot me - I'd have loved to see the look on his face as his device registered a speed close to zero, but I'd gone past by then and was taking care to control the car while laughing hysterically.
Streetcop said:
Volunteer police helpers sought
It will see dozens of people taken on to help victims of crime work inside police stations and operate speed cameras, all for no pay.
Maybe we should all write to our local councils and suggest that we will, in future, pay a reduced or even zero police precept since the Police Authority should now be able to register as a charity as it is run by volunteers.
We can fund it through Gift Aid.
A couple of good disasters and UK policing could have more funds than it has ever dreamed of. Perhaps even lottery funding.
On the other hand I could see that it might be every PH'ers duty to help out with scamera work at least one day a week.
There are certain days I have enormous problems with even the simplest technology ...
>> Edited by LongQ on Saturday 29th January 22:03
turbobloke said:
Think I've already met one of these hapless folk with too much time on their hands and insufficient judgement on how best to use it. Driving through what I now know to be a trial area I happened upon a person standing at the roadside in dayglo jacket but clearly not plod - bare head, no rank, no plod paraphernalia at all. He suddenly took aim and shot a car coming the other way with what looked like a hairdryer mk 1. This was hilarious Buzz Lightyear stuff, but it became more surreal when I drew nearly level with him and we engaged eye contact. He jolted into Space Ranger mode and shot me - I'd have loved to see the look on his face as his device registered a speed close to zero, but I'd gone past by then and was taking care to control the car while laughing hysterically.
Ah Bernard,
what's happening to this once wonderful country of ours?
How could anyone in their right mind want to voluntarily get involved in this totally malicious mischief?
I hope the bastard got a static shock up his arm from the device.
A little story of irony in the States.
It was discovered a few years ago that a great many traffic patrol officers were suffering from testicular cancer.
On consideration it was discovered that many of these guys would sit on a country road behind a billboard waiting for "speeders" to go by with the radar gun on their lap, hour after hour.
How few of them knew it contained a radioactive isotope: sad really!
The main issue will be accountability - what happens if the volunteer makes a serious mistake that affects justice, eg. they shred an important document? If somebody isn't being paid they may have a more slack attitude than an employee, especially if they are volunteering to bolster their CV for some reason (VERY common these days).
I won't comment on the speed camera issue, but if it ever happens I'm sure it will be another thing to add to the list to challenge in court.
Gareth
I won't comment on the speed camera issue, but if it ever happens I'm sure it will be another thing to add to the list to challenge in court.
Gareth
All bar the speed enforcement bit, i think its a cracking idea.
Doing the victims of crime stuff, being able to update the victims on progress etc, because as we work shifts it can be a few weeks before we are in a position to make a call at a reasonable time to inform the victim of the progress. Also if they call us then it can be some time before we can respond due to shifts and or rest days.
Even if they take witness statements, folow up enq's, file prep etc it will all be a help and leave us with the job in hand and out on the streets. As a civvie can do file's, statements etc.
After all if the civvies are there mon to fri 9 - 5 then thats an easyer person to get hold of than an officer on a 2200- 0700 shift.
Gareth
Doing the victims of crime stuff, being able to update the victims on progress etc, because as we work shifts it can be a few weeks before we are in a position to make a call at a reasonable time to inform the victim of the progress. Also if they call us then it can be some time before we can respond due to shifts and or rest days.
Even if they take witness statements, folow up enq's, file prep etc it will all be a help and leave us with the job in hand and out on the streets. As a civvie can do file's, statements etc.
After all if the civvies are there mon to fri 9 - 5 then thats an easyer person to get hold of than an officer on a 2200- 0700 shift.
Gareth
IOLAIRE said:
Ah Bernard, what's happening to this once wonderful country of ours? How could anyone in their right mind want to voluntarily get involved in this totally malicious mischief?
All I can think of is that many decent folk hold on to trust for those in authority long after it should have expired, purely because they are so decent themselves. It's a pitiful abuse of trust.
They genuinely believe that 'nice man' Bliar. They think that no government would systematically lie to its own people. Many old school senior mandarins must be of the same view, they give Bliar the benefit of the doubt when they're asked to write reports, or chair investigations into such trivial matters as the suicide of weapons experts hung out to dry. Surely no PM would be complicit in anything so shabby.
In such a context there'll be people queueing up to hold hairdryers, they really believe the propaganda that speed kills. Back to a doctored quote from elsewhere in this forum:
“Like every other radical movement in history, the speed kills lobby is at its most vulnerable when exposed to the Truth for a significant period of time. In the end, the facts will set us free.”
>> Edited by turbobloke on Sunday 30th January 01:02
^Slider^ said:If they're kept out of harm's way, well beyond sight of the public and taking some of the government's bureaucracy off BiB backs, agreed. Even there, we need to watch closely - if Brunstrom can try to get away with computerised signatures on documentation so he can gather speed tax more efficiently, there may well be abuses arising from this latest initiative. Time will tell.
All bar the speed enforcement bit, i think its a cracking idea.
turbobloke said:
All bar the speed enforcement bit, i think its a cracking idea.
If they're kept out of harm's way, well beyond sight of the public and taking some of the government's bureaucracy off BiB backs, agreed. Even there, we need to watch closely - if Brunstrom can try to get away with computerised signatures on documentation so he can gather speed tax more efficiently, there may well be abuses arising from this latest initiative. Time will tell.
Time will indeed Bernard, but my God, the damage in the interim from this bureacratic madness is insufferable and utterly sickening!
I'm up for this - big time.
I'd love to see how many councillors and road "safety" professionals I could bag.
1mph over?
What do you mean you were driving safely, you've never had an accident and some fool lowered the limit only last week?
Sorry old chap - not good enough. Don't you know that for every 1mph over the magic-number-on-a-stick you increase the chances of killing a bunny by 450,000%? Or something. You're nicked (and a copy to the local paper too)...
I'd love to see how many councillors and road "safety" professionals I could bag.
1mph over?
What do you mean you were driving safely, you've never had an accident and some fool lowered the limit only last week?
Sorry old chap - not good enough. Don't you know that for every 1mph over the magic-number-on-a-stick you increase the chances of killing a bunny by 450,000%? Or something. You're nicked (and a copy to the local paper too)...
IOLAIRE said:
How could anyone in their right mind want to voluntarily get involved in this totally malicious mischief?
To be honest Iolaire, I think you'll find plenty of people with or without time on their hands would enjoy nabbing the little sh!ts that do 50mph+ down residential roads with pedestrians, parked cars, hidden junctions, next to schools etc. Trouble is, how do we prevent this from turning into a malicious campaign where everyone over 30mph gets done regardless of the circumstances.
Here's another for you;
-------------------------------------------------
Last Updated: Sunday, 30 January, 2005, 09:51 GMT
Villagers use police speed guns
Residents will use the same speed guns used by police officers
People speeding on a West Sussex road could be caught by their neighbours as part of a police initiative.
Villagers in West Hoathly and Sharpthorne have been given training in how to use police speed guns and can start using them from Monday.
The 22 volunteers, who will patrol the C319, have also been given tuition in anger management and health and safety.
The Speedwatch scheme follows a survey of 3,000 Mid Sussex residents aimed at finding their policing priorities.
Dramatic increase
The survey last year found the needs for stronger measures to deal with speeding drivers was the residents' biggest concern - ranking higher than other crime.
The C319, which runs through both West Hoathly and Sharpthorne, has become an unofficial bypass for East Grinstead, by linking the A22 and A23.
Police said that even though not marked on maps, the road carries up to 8,000 cars a day and has seen a dramatic increase in road accidents in recent years.
Details of vehicles travelling at double the 30mph speed limit will be passed to police to deal with, with the possibility of fines and points on licences.
Councillor Adrian Lithgow, chairman of West Hoathly Parish Council's traffic committee, said: "Because of the demands on police resources, speed limits in country areas are often unenforced.
"This has given us the tools to fight back at inconsiderate drivers who abuse our community."
Sussex Police said it would not be the last scheme of its kind.
-------------------------------------------------
Last Updated: Sunday, 30 January, 2005, 09:51 GMT
Villagers use police speed guns
Residents will use the same speed guns used by police officers
People speeding on a West Sussex road could be caught by their neighbours as part of a police initiative.
Villagers in West Hoathly and Sharpthorne have been given training in how to use police speed guns and can start using them from Monday.
The 22 volunteers, who will patrol the C319, have also been given tuition in anger management and health and safety.
The Speedwatch scheme follows a survey of 3,000 Mid Sussex residents aimed at finding their policing priorities.
Dramatic increase
The survey last year found the needs for stronger measures to deal with speeding drivers was the residents' biggest concern - ranking higher than other crime.
The C319, which runs through both West Hoathly and Sharpthorne, has become an unofficial bypass for East Grinstead, by linking the A22 and A23.
Police said that even though not marked on maps, the road carries up to 8,000 cars a day and has seen a dramatic increase in road accidents in recent years.
Details of vehicles travelling at double the 30mph speed limit will be passed to police to deal with, with the possibility of fines and points on licences.
Councillor Adrian Lithgow, chairman of West Hoathly Parish Council's traffic committee, said: "Because of the demands on police resources, speed limits in country areas are often unenforced.
"This has given us the tools to fight back at inconsiderate drivers who abuse our community."
Sussex Police said it would not be the last scheme of its kind.
Streetcop said:
People speeding on a West Sussex road could be caught by their neighbours as part of a police initiative.
Turning neighbours as spys was used to good effect by the East German Stasi (secret police) during the cold war.
It sounds like the government are still trying to do policing on the cheap, rather than properly funding it. It appears Bliar/Clarke really have no interest in safety or law and order with running down the fire service and now dragging people off the streets to do police work. It really is all about taxing to the max and giving nothing back, I suppose spending real money of safety cuts back on the number of tanks and bombs he can use.
Maybe we should start using volunteer surgeons for the NHS?
GreenV8S said:
If the office work requires relatively little training, why haven't people been employed to do it, freeing up the highly trained BiBs for the job they joined to do?
Some of the mundane jobs have....it's the specialist jobs that still require 'police knowledge' and although some BiB retire and comeback into these roles...often they don't...
In addition; you'll find that the majority of 'desk working PCs' are in their last 3/4 years service.....the streets are not the best places for them..(said with respect that is difficult to put across in written form on here.)
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff