SaxaVord Spaceport comes on board Police volunteer scheme

Police in Shetland are delighted to welcome SaxaVord Spaceport on board our Police volunteer scheme, which will allow members of its team to train as Special Constables (SPCs).

Police Scotland’s volunteer team has been travelling across the isles over the past week encouraging people of all ages to sign up as volunteers to support our full complement of officers on Shetland. We would be delighted if more members of the community signed up as SPCs, while Shetland’s first ever Police Scotland Youth Volunteer team has also been launched – a fantastic opportunity for young people to gain an insight into policing.

Assistant Chief Constable for the North, Emma Bond, met with Frank Strang, CEO of SaxaVord UK Spaceport, last week to sign up to the Employer Supported Policing (ESP) programme, a partnership between employers, their staff and the Police where staff are granted time to train as SPCs. SaxaVord Spaceport is developing a launch site and ground station at Lamba Ness.

Mr Strang said they are “delighted” to be able to commit at least two members of staff on site in Unst to train as Special Constables and to “support community policing."

ACC Bond added: “Earlier this week Shetland Islands Council signed up to the ESP scheme, and I’m delighted that another important local employer has also pledged the time of its staff. They will work alongside our regular Police officers and staff, providing a vital service to the community and hopefully gaining many transferable skills in the process.”

To find out more about becoming a SPC, youth volunteer or signing up to the ESP scheme, email volunteercoordination@scotland.police.uk

Let us know your thoughts about volunteering with Police Scotland via our survey - https://consult.scotland.police.uk/police-scotland-youth-volunteers/cd64a968