Up Beat

MET VOLUNTEERS PROGRAMME

10 August 2007

Southwark Police is looking to recruit more volunteers, with the aim of increasing contact between local communities and the police.

Since its launch, the Met Volunteer Programme (MVP) in Southwark has gone from strength to strength. Helen Mojab, Southwark MVP manager, said: "I am very grateful to all volunteers for giving their time to support our officers and staff. It makes me proud to lead such a thriving and vibrant volunteer programme."

People volunteer with the police for many reasons. Volunteer Jennifer Fitzgerald says: "Volunteering at Southwark Police has given me much more confidence, and because of this I am able to put something back into the community." People have a variety of reasons for wanting to volunteer, for instance:

• They want to assist the police, but are unable to commit to full time hours
• They have skills and experience that they want to put to use for the police
• They have spare time, (they may be retired or have children who have recently left home), which they want to put to valuable use

Southwark Police is especially keen to promote the volunteer programme to support local Safer Neighbourhood Teams. "This is a terrific way to increase police relations with the local community. Other opportunities can also be tailored to allow people to fit volunteering around their lives.  Our aim is to match the right volunteers with the right skills to the right opportunities. Volunteering will develop work skills, confidence and give an insight into the Metropolitan Police Service," explains Helen.

In order to join the MVP at Southwark you must be aged 18 and upwards and have at least three years’ UK residency in order to qualify for the MPS vetting process.

The volunteer programme is a project that the Metropolitan Police are fully committed to. This is reflected in Commissioner Ian Blair's words made in a speech in March of this year.

"The development of the Met Volunteer Programme in every Borough is the most visible symbol of a Met which wishes to make London safer together with the community, and I am immensely grateful to all those who are stepping forward to help in this way."

If you are interested in becoming a
volunteer call Helen Mojab
on 020 7232 6753
or email at Helen.Mojab2@met.police.uk

 

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