Rural Crime Volunteer (RCV)
Make a difference in your rural community
Northumbria Police is recruiting Rural Crime Volunteers to support our mission to protect rural communities from acquisitive crime, wildlife crime, and emerging rural threats. As an RCV, you will act as our eyes and ears, helping us keep rural Northumbria safe.
About the Role
Rural Crime Volunteers play a vital part in our intelligence-led approach to policing. You will observe, record and report suspicious activity while going about your daily routine. You will not have police powers and will not be asked to intervene — your role is to safely report information that helps us prevent crime and support local communities.
Working closely with Rural Policing Teams, Neighbourhood Teams and partner agencies, you’ll help enhance community safety and improve the flow of local intelligence
What You’ll Be Doing
As a Rural Crime Volunteer, you will:
- Report suspicious activity through approved reporting methods (full training provided).
- Support police and partner agencies in preventing and disrupting local and cross-border crime.
- Assist at community events, representing Northumbria Police and promoting rural crime prevention.
- Distribute information and leaflets related to local crime issues.
- Participate in proactive rural policing operations, including quarterly Operation Checkpoint.
- Carry out solo or joint patrols in your local area, maintaining regular contact with Rural Crime Leads.
- Encourage incident reporting and support the spread of crime-prevention messaging across rural communities.
You can volunteer as little or as much time as you wish.
What We’re Looking For
We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds. You’ll be a great fit if you:
- Understand or are keen to learn about rural crime and wildlife issues.
- Are physically able to carry out local patrols.
- Are inquisitive, observant, and confident recording accurate details.
- Can communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.
- Can build positive working relationships with police, partner agencies and your local community.
We particularly welcome volunteers who have strong local knowledge and experience of rural life.
Training and Support
You will receive:
- A mandatory induction training session to begin your volunteer journey.
- Ongoing training and development delivered by police professionals and outside experts.
- Regular CPD sessions to keep your skills and knowledge up to date.
- Guidance and contact points through your local Rural Policing Team.
Although many patrols are carried out independently, you will be part of a supportive network of volunteers and officers.
Eligibility Requirements
You must:
- Be 18 or older.
- Have lived in the UK for at least three years (for vetting purposes).
- Pass NPPV1 vetting checks, including criminal and financial checks.
Criminal record?
Having a previous conviction is not an automatic barrier; each case is assessed individually.
Non‑UK nationals, refugees and asylum seekers may be able to volunteer depending on visa status.
How to Apply
Please click the Apply link on this advert and you will be asked to complete an application form and a short statement as to why you are interested in this opportunity.
If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a NPPV1 vetting form - therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A volunteer role offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, submission of a Volunteer Agreement, and a self-declaration medical form information.
Start dates will be confirmed once all Vetting Checks have been completed.
Contact Us
Interested to learn more? For further information about the role please contact:
OperationHawkeye@northumbria.police.uk
