PCC thanks volunteers for their vital support

Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts has paid tribute to the dedicated volunteers on her team and the hours of service they contribute to keep the public safe.

As the nation observes Volunteers’ Week (June 1-7), the Derbyshire PCC said unpaid volunteers remained integral to her vision for a safer, stronger and more inclusive county and praised their achievements in building trust and confidence in policing services.

At a special celebration event this week the PCC personally thanked her volunteers for their hard work throughout the year and expressed her appreciation for the passion and dedication they invest in their duties.

There are currently 20 volunteers directly supporting the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner, regularly contributing hours of service over the past 12 months.

Many of the volunteers serve as Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) and some have more than one scrutiny role. ICVs work as part of a team making unannounced visits to police custody suites where people are brought and held following arrest.

They check how well detainees in custody are being treated and report their findings back to the ICV scheme manager to ensure the PCC can action any recommendations for improvement. 

Other volunteers sit on the PCC’s Stop and Search Scrutiny Panel and around five are members of the county’s Animal Welfare Scheme (AWS), who undertake a similar role to ICVs to ensure Derbyshire’s police dogs are cared for appropriately.

Nine volunteers currently sit on the PCC’s Custody Detention Scrutiny Panel. On this panel, members receive unprecedented access to material retained by the police to scrutinise a range of different custody areas such as policies and procedures, use of force and disproportionality, and report their findings back to the Commissioner.

Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts said:

“Our scrutiny volunteers give their free time, undertaking activities that have helped to build confidence, understanding and trust in our policing services. Their contributions continue to drive higher standards and ensure officers fulfil their duties with the integrity, transparency, respect and fairness required of their positions.

“The spirit of volunteering keeps our communities strong and healthy. It is impossible to put a value on the time, passion and commitment our volunteers invest in their roles and their communities, and they really rightly deserve this celebration of their work.

“As we mark Volunteers’ Week 2026, I want to thank every one of our volunteers for their dedication throughout the year and their continued support. They are a vital asset to our county - without them, Derbyshire would not be the safe, strong and welcoming place we’re proud to call home. Their work reminds us that safety is a shared responsibility, with everyone playing a part in building the communities we want for the future.”

During the celebration event, the Commissioner personally thanked volunteers for their contribution throughout the year and presented certificates and badges to mark milestones in service.

The PCC recently launched a recruitment drive to attract new volunteers for her Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) scheme.

More than 50 people expressed an interest in joining the team and 15 are currently progressing through vetting procedures.