How businesses can support their staff to help protect and serve our communities

Our neighbourhood policing teams are the bedrock of policing, and they’re made up of PCSOs, volunteers, and of course Special Constables.

But how can local businesses play their part in this too? Our Special Constables in particular volunteer in their own time, working closely with our neighbourhood policing teams and other teams across our force area to protect and serve the communities in which they both live and work too.

Your staff live and work in those same communities, and we’re sure you have plenty who have a passion for giving something back to make our communities safer and stronger.

That’s where you come in – the National Employer Supported Policing (ESP) programme increases the diversity of knowledge within a workforce, offers a rewarding scheme to participate in, as well as supporting the ethical, social, and community aims of many organisations. Something you might call your corporate social responsibility.

Dedicated to getting more businesses involved in becoming part of the ESP scheme is Community Safety Inspector Mark Lovell, he said: “This ESP scheme is fantastic, and I cannot recommend it enough to local businesses within our force area.

“The scheme contributes to a safer, more resilient, and empowered society which leads to community wellbeing through volunteers who enhance the connections between all different sectors within our region, as well as promoting active citizenship and engagement within policing.

“Once an organisation agrees to give employee volunteering leave, and have completed the ESP registration form, you will become a partner on the scheme, and will receive a Certificate of Participation.

“As well as allowing additional paid leave for employees to volunteer as a Special Constable or Police Support Volunteer, organisations can also promote the scheme internally by actively encouraging staff to volunteer in policing and make a real difference in their community.”

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