West Mercia Police is helping public sector suppliers to the region, and its local businesses to develop social value as volunteering which directly underpins community safety and resilience.
Through the region's DICM (West Mercia) mechanism, businesses operating within the region can help their employees to volunteer in a way which is invaluable to the people and strategic objectives of West Mercia.
This is a powerful new way for business and their employees to operate together for social value which drives community safety.
The National Employer Supported Policing (ESP) Initiative
This enables all businesses to support their employees in their role as Special Constables during work hours without any impact on their pay or other employment benefits.
Organisations may grant employees a set number of hours or days per month or year to serve as Special Constables, with flexibility to tailor arrangements to suit both the business and the employee. There is no contractual commitment, and participation remains entirely voluntary - both businesses and employees can opt out at any time.
A Special Constable is voluntary, a part-time police officer who plays a vital role in making our communities safer. They are fully trained, with full police powers and wear a police uniform working alongside regular police officers and police staff.
In return, a business and employ commits a minimum of 16 hours a month, although many people do significantly more as the hours can be flexible to fit around work and home life commitments.
DICM (West Mercia) - Employer Supported Policing Social Value
Any business supplying into the region's emergency services, councils, NHS or criminal justice services can develop contract social value which is built around volunteering which includes ESP; clearly point to how their social value supports the wider aims and objectives of the Safer West Mercia Plan and the priorities of the Community Safety Partnerships.
The video below explains the process: