The Accredited Police Volunteer (APV) Scheme

What the APV scheme is

This scheme has been implemented following the introduction of the Policing and Crime Act in 2017, which allows chief constables to delegate police powers to police volunteers or staff. The aim of this scheme is to either engage with existing community safety organisations and their volunteers, or for Devon & Cornwall Police to explore accreditation with internal volunteers and identify if specific police powers may assist them in their role.

We expect this initiative to contribute significantly to community engagement, community safety, connectivity, building community resilience, and help to reduce crime and disorder.

The Accredited Police Volunteer scheme engages volunteers to provide direct support to specialist policing teams and the wider community. The accredited individuals are part of the Extended Policing Family and can be granted limited police powers upon accreditation.

The Accredited Police Volunteer scheme can offer a wide range of roles, but they must not replace existing police staff or officer roles. Rather, they should complement and support the ongoing work of Devon & Cornwall Police.

Each potential role must have a clear need and a role profile that describes its purpose and expectations.

Objectives of the scheme

• Increase reassurance of communities through a uniformed, visible presence.
• Deter and prevent low-level crime and disorder.
• Support partnership working and to safeguard the most vulnerable within our communities.

Eligibility

• The minimum age requirement is 18 years old.
• The individual must be suitable to exercise the powers conferred on them through accreditation.
• The person must be capable of performing their functions effectively.
• Adequate training must be undertaken to exercise powers.
• Relevant levels of police vetting must be cleared, determined by the role.

How to know if someone is APV accredited

Each organisation that is APV accredited within Devon & Cornwall is listed at the bottom of this page.

To be able to use their power each accredited person must:

• be in uniform
• display the APV logo on their uniform
• carry with them both a powers cards, identifying powers they are accredited with, and a police issued ID badge
• be on duty (at work)

Any of these items can be requested by a member of the public or officer or staff at any reasonable time and should be produced.

Available powers

There are a number of powers available for accreditation under this scheme which can include those listed below.

• Power to access to and share information and intelligence with the police.
• Power to require name and address for anti-social behaviour.
• Power to require name and address for a fixed penalty notice offence.

Devon & Cornwall Police are currently only considering powers which contribute to tackling anti-social behaviour and low level crime and disorder.

There are a number of powers unavailable through this scheme which include powers such as stop and search, powers under terrorism legislation and firearms.

Full details of powers excluded from accreditation can be found here: Policing and Crime Act in 2017

Contact us

For further information and to apply for APV accreditation, please contact us by sending us an email to the APV Team.

Organisations

There are currently no Accredited Police Volunteer schemes.