Matthew Callender

The mini-police is an innovative police engagement programme that is aimed at children aged 8–11 years in England and Wales. This article examines the perspectives of children who have participated in the mini-police programme filling a significant gap within the literature. Children voices were captured through a national online survey completed by 248 children who had been in the mini-police and 102 children who had not and 8 child-friendly creative workshops were held in 4 forces involving 56 children. The article suggests that participation in this programme can increase children’s understanding of what the police do, their trust in the police, and their desire to help others. Additionally, findings suggested that other positive impacts of participation include an increased self-identity, confidence, and sense of safety. This article argues that engaging younger children in programmes such as these can help to promote and support positive life course trajectories.

Internationally, there is a significant scale to police based uniformed youth organizations, however, discourses of value have usually emphasized the benefits to young people which has neglected other dimensions of value. In a climate where many such programmes face threats in terms of sustainability and relative police buy-in, there is considerable risk that the strategic and policy decision makers concerning the future of programmes make decisions based on a narrow understanding of value. This article is based on Police Scotland’s Youth Volunteer (PSYV) programme which supports over 750 young people to learn about policing and facilitates volunteering in their local communities. It considers different dimensions of value from the perspectives of young people in terms of them being beneficiaries, producers and designers of value. Police-based uniformed youth organizations, using the PSYV example, are demonstrated to offer unique environments for young people to play different roles with the police. As beneficiaries, young people were found to gain important skills such as confidence and learnt more about policing. As producers, young people generated important value to the community supporting local and national policing priorities. As designers, young people supported the development of the programme by providing feedback on problems and proposed new initiatives. By better understanding, developing, and appreciating the different roles young people played within the PSYV, each of which form distinct yet connected dimensions of value, as evidenced in this study, there is potential to reshape discourses of value concerning such programmes from benefits to young people.

The Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns presented significant challenges for policing: changing patterns of criminal behaviour, frequently shifting emergency regulations, resourcing pressures, and new dynamics in how police and citizens interacted with each other. However, the impact of the pandemic on volunteers in policing—in England and Wales, a cohort estimated between 7,211 Police Support Volunteers (PSVs) to up to 500,000 ‘citizens in policing’ who regularly give time in some capacity to support the police—has been largely overlooked. This article draws on a national benchmarking survey of PSVs in England and Wales conducted in 2021 (n = 1,305) to reflect on volunteering experiences during the pandemic. It considers the contribution that PSVs can make during challenging times and the importance of flexible and innovative tasking to capitalize on the volunteer offer. The article underpins the centrality of an adequately resourced police volunteer infrastructure to effectively mobilize volunteer resources on both a ‘business as usual’ basis, and during times of crisis.

Police agencies face growing pressure from limited resources and increasingly complex crime patterns. Innovation in public safety is no longer optional, it is imperative. Volunteer policing has long played a vital role in supporting law enforcement. Today, however, it is hindered by declining participation, lack of diversity, and persistent retention challenges. Drawing on decades of collective experience, our international team comprising volunteer officers, police leaders, trainers, professors, researchers, and consultants proposes Policing Together, a community-driven framework. This framework integrates evidence from the 2024 International Symposium on Volunteering in Policing (Edinburgh) and the National Women in the Special Constabulary Conference 2024 (Birmingham), alongside international research and practice. We propose engaging various e groups such as capable and diverse citizens, specialists, employers, organizations and youths, and employing varied methods, including digital platforms, school engagement, and grassroots recruitment, to overcome systemic barriers. Rooted in pragmatist philosophy, Policing Together offers a flexible, inclusive framework that sustains public trust and community resilience.

Background: Growing evidence of mental disorders among people going through the criminal justice system suggests the potential benefit of courts adding a Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) when sentencing an offender to a Community Order (sentence) in England and Wales. Although available since 2003, MHTRs have not been widely used, and there is little evidence on outcomes.Aim: To conduct the first large‐scale evaluation of mental health outcomes of people with an MHTR as part of their community sentence across multiple sites in England and Wales.Methods: Data were collected from 14 sites in England and Wales about individuals who were given an MHTR as part of a community sentence. They were assessed before and after this. During the MHTR, they received a psychotherapeutic intervention by assistant psychologists in a primary care framework. Measures of psychological distress (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation—Outcome Measure), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder‐7) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire) were completed before the MHTR was implemented and after completion.Results: Where paired sample t‐tests and Wilcoxon signed ranked tests were used, with samples ranging between 309 and 447 individuals, clinically significant changes were obtained for all measures. Most individuals (63%) were identified as experiencing a reliable change in at least two out of the three scales. Finally, a negative linear relationship, between measures at the start of the intervention and reliable change, was identified with higher pre‐measures, indicating that more initial distress, anxiety and/or depression were associated with more sizeable changes.Conclusions: This paper provides the first substantial evidence in support of the MHTR within a primary mental healthcare framework as an effective pathway to reduce mental health problems among individuals under probation supervision as part of a sentence after conviction for a criminal offence. This supports the expansion of the provision across England and Wales. Future research should take account of the non‐completers and explore the relationship between the MHTR, mental health improvements and reoffending.

The paper reports on a study of the early career experiences of voluntary Special Constables. The research identified the importance of practising, becoming and belonging for volunteers during initial training. Significant challenges in their early front-line practice were experienced alongside problems of processes, management, and organisation, and cultural challenges in terms of ‘fitting in’ and building relationships. The paper argues for the need to further professionalise police force approaches to new Special Constables and the need to shift away from a ‘finding their own way’ paradigm for new volunteer officers towards a structured, unified pathway of development.

This article explores senior and strategic perspectives on the volunteer Special Constabulary in England and Wales, based on 38 interviews with senior police leaders. The strategic context and leadership of Special Constabularies represents an overlooked element of police leadership, given the scale and potential of volunteer officers to impact upon policing delivery and reform. The paper identifies tension between a traditional strategic paradigm that frames bounded expectations of the role of Special Constables, emphasising differences between them and their paid counterparts, and considerations of police reform which prompt different thinking in respect of practice, identity and integration of volunteer officers.

A substantial body of research engaging volunteer Special Constables has reflected the importance for them of relationships and integration with their Regular, paid police officer colleagues. This article looks at this professional relationship from the other side, drawing upon 1,382 responses to an online survey of Regular police officers undertaken across five police forces in England and Wales. Findings point to gaps in confidence in the adequacy of recruitment, training, and initial practice competency and scepticism on leadership and strategic direction. More positive findings reflect valuing the contribution and perceptions of positive relationships. This article identifies the need for police forces to engage and involve Regular officers more constructively with the Special Constabulary. The research has a broader relevance for cultural engagement and integration across the diversity of roles in the ‘police family’, both paid and volunteer.

Accessible summaryWhat is already known about the topic? MHST represents transformation at the forefront of policing and mental health to people in crisis with the aim of providing a better and more efficient response. Current knowledge has largely focused on service development, informed by narratives of risk, and this study applies an alternative focus by considering the interplay in practice. What the paper adds to existing knowledge? This paper adds to emerging work on mental health street triage, offering original insights into the interplay of police officers and mental health nurses in practice. The evidence presented shows how the dynamics between officers and nurses were informed by perceptions of trust, belonging and legitimacy which shaped decision-making and outcomes. This study also reveals the impacts of leadership continuity and staff turnover to service efficacy and the potential of strategic "drift." What are the implications for practice? Nurses who work in MHST operations should be prepared to share knowledge, learning and insight into how different mental health conditions present in practice and support the assessment of risk posed to officers. Alternative pathways available to detainment by police under the Mental Health Act should be identified and communicated to officers, both in the control room and in situ, to avoid unnecessary detentions. Strategies should be developed to extend the communication of mental health education and knowledge beyond those immediately involved in MHST to support the police to better respond to mental health. Introduction The limited evidence on mental health street triage (MHST) is largely focused on service development and is overly police-centric dominated by narratives of risk. This paper considers the interplay between officers and CPNs in practice situated within strategic and operational contexts, illustrating the importance of place to service developments and trust within practice. Aim This study was conducted to compare the processes, experiences and perceptions of MHST in three sites in England. Method Semi-structured interviews were completed with 27 police and health service staff in strategic and operational roles over a three-month period in three sites in England. Results Four themes were identified: "Reducing and improving the use of mental health detainments," "Importance of local contexts and partnerships," "Enhancing officer confidence" and "Developing street triage." Discussion Mental health street triage decision-making and outcomes were influenced by issues of trust, belonging and legitimacy within the interplay between officers and nurses. Continuity and staff turnover influenced strategic and operational development. However, MHST was perceived to be an effective and cost-saving model. Implications for practice Mental health nurses are well positioned to lead awareness and education of officers in relation to mental health crisis response. Staff need to develop communication strategies that extend beyond those immediately involved in MHST.