POLICE in Callington have received a good response in their appeal for police volunteers to help tackle community issues.

Some 25 people have put their names forward for the police volunteer programme and are going through the vetting process.

If successful they will become involved with things like speed monitoring, door to door surveys for PACT (police and communities together) to prioritise issues of concern in the community and CCTV monitoring.

The role of a PVP is to assist regular police officers. They will have access to police resources and wear an ID badge and force number.

PC Julian Collison, who is based at Callington, said quite a few volunteers had come from the Duchy College at Stoke Climsland: 'There is a public services course at the college and some of the students want to be police officers. Part of the course is undertaking some volunteering so the students are quite keen to join up.'

He said local CCTV monitoring in particular would be a great help to officers: 'If someone is watching a fight develop in Fore Street and we are patrolling elsewhere we can get to the scene quickly.'

Volunteers have to be of previous good character and undergo a strict vetting process on the same level as candidates wishing to become a police officer. They also have to be medically fit but there is no upper age limit.

There is a commitment of between two and ten hours a week and travelling expenses will be paid. Anyone interested should call into Callington police station.