As a Community Speed Watch Volunteer you’ll play an active role in improving road safety within your local area.

What do Community Speed Watch volunteers do?

Community Speed Watch is a national initiative which plays a vital role in helping to reduce speeding vehicles. The initiative aims to educate drivers on the importance of road safety.

As a volunteer, you’ll be working in conjunction with our officers to gather information on those speeding and offending on the roads. You’ll play a crucial role in helping to keep our roads and communities safe. Not only will you help to raise awareness and deter speeding, you will also help to reduce noise pollution and improve the quality of life in your community.

Will I receive any training? 

Full training will be given prior to becoming a volunteer. You will be issued a digital handbook which will give a full overview of the role, alongside guidance to speed gun operation and roadside health and safety. An officer will accompany you on your very first Speed Watch duty.

Once fully trained, you’ll work in a team of two to four volunteers. Then you’ll visit pre-approved sites with a radar to record the speed and registration number of the offending vehicles. You will use equipment to capture:

• Speed
• Registration number
• Colour of car
• Make of car

A speed sign will warn drivers of your presence and will act as a reminder to consider their speed as they approach.

How much time do I need to volunteer?

There is no minimum as to how much time you need to volunteer. We would encourage you to offer your time as and when is suitable. We do ask that you volunteer during daylight hours only and in safe weather conditions.

Where will I be volunteering?

Community Speed Watch spans 2000 square miles. That’s from the top of our force area in Berwick-upon-Tweed to the bottom Houghton-le-Spring.

You may be deployed (within reasonable travelling distance) to problem roads which exceed your immediate locality – however this is entirely up to you to accept.

While speed targeting operations may require you to attend certain locations, often you will liaise directly with other Speed Watch volunteers and decide together which areas you visit. You will visit sites which have been risk assessed and approved by officers.

How do I get involved?

To find out more about the role, please contact Citizens in Policing by email at citizensinpolicing@northumbria.pnn.police.uk

If you have any queries about the application process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Team at careers@northumbria.pnn.police.uk

I have a disability – can I still apply?

Northumbria Police are committed to providing a supportive recruitment process to candidates with disabilities. We guarantee an interview to any applicant who has a disability as defined under the Equality Act 2010, if you meet the essential criteria for the role. 

Adjustments can be made for the interview and when you start as a volunteer. Examples of previous adjustments include: 

• Sharing the interview questions the day before 
• Providing additional time to answer questions 
• Coloured overlays for paper documents 

If you would like to discuss this further, you can contact us at Citizensinpolicing@northumbria.police.uk