Commissioner brings volunteers together to celebrate their contribution to policing

Police and Crime Commissioner, Darryl Preston held a special event at police headquarters last week to celebrate the vital contribution volunteers play to keep people safe in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  

The evening brought together more than 40 volunteers who give up their valuable time to uphold policing standards and ensure police processes are fair and transparent. 

From monitoring conditions in custody for detainees, to ensuring police officers are carrying out their powers - such as Stop and Search and Use of Force - to the highest ethical standards, the evening was an opportunity for the Commissioner to personally thank all those who attended.  

The volunteers were able to update each other on their achievements as well as enjoy a demonstration from police dog, Floss who confidently showed off her skills to detect drugs, cash, firearms and explosives. A combination of trained police dogs and handlers from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, the Dog Unit plays a vital role in the fight against crime.

Special Constables who support the police and other partners to keep the county’s roads safe also spoke about the contribution they have made in their volunteering roles. Through funding from the Commissioner for three vans, the Vision Zero team has committed over 9,000 hours, stopped 1,302 vehicles covering 50,000 miles, seized 81 vehicles without insurance, attended over 700 road related incidents and reported over 800 drivers for offences. 

Darryl said: “The event was a wonderful opportunity for me to catch up with our volunteers, to listen to their experiences and understand what makes them volunteer.  

“We are very fortunate to have such a strong and independent team of people who collectively sacrifice thousands of hours to help our police offices and staff deliver the service we expect – from Special Constables to Independent Custody Visitors and Community Scrutiny Panel members, the work these people do, day in, day out is priceless.” 

Volunteers serve in several areas of policing across Cambridgeshire - from monitoring the welfare of detainees in police custody on behalf of the Commissioner’s Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) scheme, through to carrying out welfare checks to observe, comment and report on the conditions in which police dogs are housed, trained and transported across the three forces of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. 

In other roles, volunteers scrutinise the use of police powers through the Commissioner’s Community Scrutiny Panel by objectively reviewing incidents through Body Worn Video footage or records to ensure tactics have been properly and ethically exercised in accordance with UK legislation.  

Julie Clark Cadet leader added: “The thing I most enjoy is seeing cadets who are so quiet grow their confidence over six or seven months to become amazing young adults.”  

Special Sergeant Tom Howard added: “My team work towards driving down road deaths across Cambridgeshire. Everyone should be able to arrive safely at home, and I am proud to be part of a team that helps achieve that.”  

Keith Parish, Chair of the Community Scrutiny Panel Chair said: “We promote better trust and confidence between the public and police force, ensuring honest and ethical policing around Cambridgeshire, being a member of the scrutiny panel is an honour and privilege.” 

Building trust and confidence in policing is a key priority in the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan, and he has a whole team of passionate, community-driven volunteers to help him improve transparency and accountability of the force’s work.