Civilians will work on investigations

Llanederyn police station is to trial a new system of using civilian volunteers to free regular officers for frontline policing.

Unlike special constables, the volunteers will work in a support capacity, carrying out administrative and other jobs such as keeping in contact with victims of crime.

Officers are hoping the scheme - the first to be run by South Wales Police - will promote good relations between the force and the local community.

Inspector Steve Furnham is leading the project, which he hopes to get up and running as soon as possible.

"We have identified an area in the police service where we believe civilian police volunteers could assist us in a support role.

It will make the police more transparent to the community by getting them to work alongside us Insp Steve Furnham

"Volunteers would help in investigations, contacting victims of crime to keep them informed and do follow-up work.

"Often people are so shocked when they become a victim of crime, they forget details, but if you ring back a week later they may have more information which will help the investigation.

"It will release regular officers from administration duties.

"Also, it will make the police more transparent to the community by getting them to work alongside us."

All volunteers will be given full training and have the same checks made on them as people applying to join the police.

He added: "There's no age limit.

It's increasing communication between ourselves and the people we serve Insp Steve Furnham

"It's open to all members of the public - retired people with some spare time on their hands, former officers, students, people who might be interested in joining the police and want to find out more.

"All volunteers would become part of South Wales Police."

Insp Furnham said he did not think people would see it as policing on the cheap but as an opportunity to contribute to something worthwhile.

"It's increasing communication between ourselves and the people we serve," he said.

An initial round of publicity has already prompted interest, and officers are collecting details of volunteers with a view to starting training within the next month.