Meet our Volunteers »
Click here to read about some of our volunteers and what they do with Dorset Police.
Join the Policing Family
By choosing to volunteer with us, you will be doing something amazing for your community and gaining key skills and experience through doing so. You will receive a variety of benefits and will be volunteering within a diverse and supportive environment, with rewarding tasks to complete.
What do volunteers do?
Our volunteers support policing in a variety of different ways. Their passion and commitment are invaluable in helping us to strengthen our communities, solve problems and improve the lives of others.
At Dorset Police, we take care of our volunteers by providing them with the necessary training, support and equipment they need to succeed.
Although you will not be paid a salary, your volunteering role should not leave you out of pocket. You will be able to claim expenses for travelling to and from your place of duty, and a meal allowance if you assist for more than four hours in one session.
If you opt to join us as a Police Support Volunteer, you will be vetted prior to joining and will be asked to sign forms agreeing to the principles of The Data Protection Act and The Official Secrets Act.
Who can join the Police Support Volunteers?
To apply to become a Police Support Volunteer, you need to meet the following criteria:
- You need to be over the age of 18
- You must have resided in the UK for the past 3 years at least
- You will need a National Insurance number
Who cannot join the Police Support Volunteers?
Unfortunately, some roles or professions will prevent you from becoming a police volunteer for Dorset Police, as there could be a conflict of interest.
These are as follows:
- Police and Crime Commissioner employees
- Magistrates/Clerks to the Justices/Clerks to the Courts
- Probation Officers/Bailiffs/Warrant Officers
- Liquor licence holders/Licensed premises managers (and their spouses)
- Licencees of betting/gaming establishments
- Private detectives/enquiry agents
- Security officers/guards/door staff
- Custody officers/custody escort officers
- Serving members of HM Forces.
What do we provide to our volunteers?
- A chance to gain an insight in policing and build a relationship with your local policing team.
- Reasonable expenses to ensure you are never out of pocket, including payment for travel and a meal allowance if you assist for more than 4 hours in one session.
- An opportunity to gain key skills and experience.
- Flexible Hours
- Development and training opportunities
- Supportive and flexible training, including online mandated training from the College of Policing.
- An opportunity to build connections within your local community.