The Economy of Policing: The Impact of the Volunteer

This paper examines the use of volunteers within the police service in England and Wales in the light of the recent global economic downturn and examines the cost of providing such policing services. With reference to an economic costing model entitled VIVA, the paper clearly illustrates the economic advantages of utilizing volunteers whilst arguing that such use would increase public confidence and provide greater resonance in attempts by police agencies to engage with their communities. Resistance to this idea, both organizationally and culturally, is considered, and the paper concludes with the premise that whilst not being a panacea for resolving economic problems in providing police services, volunteers present a real and robust economic option that needs to be carefully considered.