Cardiff Post Article June 2008

Many local Councillors regularly attend Police and Community Together (PACT) meetings which are run with the police.  They provide constituents with the opportunity of asking the Police and Council for help and support to combat problems in their localities.  Each PACT Meeting draws a few key themes as priorities, and progress on the issues is given at the next meeting.  For more information about these meetings, please log on to www.ourbobby.com

South Wales Police are currently piloting a project in a few divisions to introduce a number of volunteers to support and assist their local neighbourhood policing teams by performing non uniform support tasks.

The Police have advised that other forces around the country use volunteers and have found them to be invaluable and have increased their numbers year on year.  They are looking for volunteers from the age of 16 upwards from the local community with an interest in community policing and a willingness to support their local neighbourhood police officers.

All roles that the volunteers will be performing have been agreed to by unions and fully risk assessed. The roles considered so far include assisting with all aspects of the PACT process (sending out/ collecting PACT postcards, helping organise PACT meetings, acting as a chair of a PACT meeting where appropriate and where there may be a vacancy).  Also assisting with updating certain databases such as ourbobby.com, helping with local surveys including satisfaction and citizen focus surveys and surveys to inform Neighbourhood Profiles.  Assisting with the production and delivery of any communication material to local residents including crime prevention advice or newsletters.  Help is also required by way of supporting officers in appropriate neighbourhood initiatives such as empty car campaigns and environmental visual audits and assisting staff to contact victims of crime with updates where appropriate.

Role suggestions and ideas of how volunteers could help from Neighbourhood Police Teams are being encouraged.

Volunteers will not be expected to sign up to a minimum number of hours, their volunteering will be coordinated so they attend when they are needed and when they are able.

Volunteers will be expected to complete an application form, have an informal interview and be vetted to the level of Police staff.  They will be required to sign the Official Secrets Act and a volunteer agreement.

If you would like to be put in contact with the officer in charge, please contact me.

My Rhiwbina and Pantmawr ward colleagues Adrian Robson and Brian Jones and I will be holding our next ward surgery in the Pantmawr Inn, Tyla Teg on Monday 16^th June between 5pm – 6.30pm.  Please pop along for a chat about any problems you have.

I can be contacted via the following : Tel 029 2062 7757 / 079 7001 3332, E-Mail jcowan@cardiff.gov.uk or log on to the website www.rhiwbinaward.com