Annual Report 23/24 Accessible Version

Support volunteering

It is important to provide people with opportunities to get involved in activities which support community policing and to learn about responsible citizenship.

The purpose of the Cadets is not to recruit police officers of the future, but to encourage the spirit of adventure and good citizenship.

a) The Senior Cadet programme is for young people aged 13 to 18 years and provides opportunities to develop life skills and prepare for future careers both within the police and other professions. As at 31 March 2024, there were 390 Senior Cadets located at 12 units across Kent and Medway.

b) Whilst not every force has a Junior Cadet programme, it offers those aged 11 to 13 years an opportunity to learn about the police and get involved in supporting the local community. As at 31 March 2024, there were 39 Junior cadets located at units in Maidstone and Dover.

c) The Mini Cadet programme is open to those aged 8 to 11 years and is run through primary schools. It is designed to teach about good citizenship and concentrates on building self-esteem as well as breaking down barriers with the police. With funding from the OPCC, since its launch in April 2021, over 80 schools have enrolled and more than 800 children taken part.

I am very supportive and appreciative of the work of Special Constables; unpaid volunteers who wear a uniform, have the same powers as regular officers and put themselves in harm’s way like their paid colleagues - but all because they just want to give something back to their communities. As at 31 March 2024, there were 182 Special Constables who volunteered over 70,000 hours of policing in 2023/24.

Introduced in 2018/19, Community Police Volunteers (CPVs) provide direct support to specialist policing teams and help maintain a police presence in local communities. As at 31 March 2024, there were 62 trained CPVs who volunteered over 6,000 hours in 2023/24.

As at 31 March 2024, Kent Police also had 84 Police Support Volunteers in roles which made good use of their skills. Examples of work undertaken include provision of administrative support in various departments, vehicle maintenance and role-playing for student officer training.

Information on volunteering opportunities can be found on the Kent Police website.

I have also continued to provide grant funding to charities and organisations who rely on volunteers within local communities to deliver their services.

I would like to thank the Special Constabulary, Community Police Volunteers, Volunteer Police Cadets and all other volunteers who do not wear a police logo, such as South East 4x4 Response and Kent Search and Rescue, for their time and for all their hard work in helping keep the county safe.

Independent Custody Visitors

I am responsible for the ICV Scheme which sees volunteers making unannounced visits to police custody suites to check on the welfare of detained persons (DPs), ensuring they have received their rights and are held in satisfactory conditions.

In 2023/24, ICVs conducted 196 visits to custody suites and engaged with 630 DPs.

Areas of good practice identified by ICVs included:

Distraction items – the range available including headphones and inner ear protectors for those with sensory issues, chalk boards on the walls and books in a number of different languages for different reading levels. North Kent’s vulnerability room has comfortable chairs, books and multiple distraction items for those who need a break from their cell.

Inclusivity items – the creation of picture cards for those DPs who may be non-verbal, unable to speak English, or with other challenges such as learning disabilities or autism to help them indicate their needs, concerns or general mood. Provision of the Rights and Entitlements in braille for those with sight loss, alongside an Easy Read version already available. The use of double handled ‘Sippy’ cups for those who may struggle to hold a normal cup due to health issues or shaking from being under the influence.

Areas requiring improvement identified included:

Staffing – on several occasions ICVs noted that suites were running at minimal staffing levels, with no resilience. The Kent Police custody team submitted a report to the Chief Constable requesting more staff and included the ICVs concerns. An uplift in custody staff has been agreed and the force has a plan; the ICVs will continue to monitor staffing levels as it is implemented.

Inspector reviews – ICVs found several instances where Inspector reviews were late, often with no reason given as required under PACE. Additionally, they found occasions where the DP was sleeping at the time of the review and there was no evidence in the custody record to suggest the detainee was informed of the outcome.

Overall, ICVs found the care to be excellent, with staff focused on the dignity and wellbeing of DPs.

I would like to extend my thanks to the ICVs for their support and the excellent work they carry out. Further information on ICVs can be found on the OPCC website.