LJMU students gain policing experience through Merseyside Police volunteer scheme

A collaborative pilot programme between LJMU’s Student Futures team and Merseyside Police has given students the chance to gain first-hand insight into the challenges and responsibilities involved in investigative work.

The Investigations Volunteer Programme has seen students join Merseyside Police at their Protecting Vulnerable Persons (PVP) Unit at Marsh Lane in Bootle, supporting live investigations by contacting victims in line with the Victims’ Code of Practice, updating case files, and supporting detectives with administrative work.

First advertised to LJMU students in March 2024, more than 60 applications were received, and 22 students began volunteering in September 2024.

Students committed to volunteer for a minimum of four hours per week and several students have since moved into employment within Merseyside Police, with others going on to apply for other policing pathways.

Sue Riley, who has just graduated with a Criminology degree, said: “My role involved maintaining regular contact with victims throughout the investigation process. This helped free up time for detectives, while also ensuring victims remained informed and supported. The experience gave me a clearer understanding of police processes and contributed to me gaining a role as a Custody Validation Officer with Merseyside Police after graduating.”

Fred Lowe, a Professional Policing student going into his final year this September, also volunteered at the PVP Unit. His duties included reviewing case files, making victim update calls, and recording information on police systems. He said: “I wanted to get practical experience in policing and see if it was the right career path for me. I now feel much more prepared for the realities of the role and plan to apply to join Merseyside Police when I graduate.”

Hanuf Khallid, who graduated with a degree in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice in 2024 and has recently secured a role with Merseyside Police as a Visual Technician Officer, said: “I always knew I wanted to work in a law enforcement agency, but I didn't know how to achieve that goal. Having a huge passion for the police, working as an Investigations Volunteer for Merseyside Police allowed me to gain relevant and practical experience to not only fulfil my strong passion, but to also gain professional skills and experience. This has allowed me to develop my interpersonal skills, improving my confidence and allowing me to secure a job.”

Detective Inspector Gavin Mulcahy of the Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) Unit praised the remarkable contributions of the LJMU students involved in recent initiatives aimed at supporting victims and enhancing investigative work.

I continue to be deeply impressed by the energy and commitment these young individuals bring to the table. Their fresh perspectives and relentless curiosity are keeping even our most experienced detectives on their toes—in the best possible way. Their involvement is already making a tangible difference, strengthening our teams and improving the support we provide to victims.

DI Mulcahy

The initiative reflects the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit’s ongoing commitment to innovation, collaboration, and community engagement. By empowering young people to take an active role in meaningful work, the programme is helping to shape a more responsive and inclusive approach to policing.

Volunteer awards

A number of volunteers, including Sue, Fred and Hanuf, were recognised at a recent Merseyside Police awards ceremony celebrating and recognising contributions to volunteering in policing. The event was attended by guests including the Deputy Chief Constable, the High Sheriff of Merseyside, and the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner.

Other LJMU students and recent graduates also received volunteering awards including George Phelan-Avis (Criminology graduate, 2025) and Daniel Hopley (current Forensics, Policing and Investigations student).

A second round of volunteer recruitment was launched in February 2025 and saw a significant increase in interest, with 185 applications submitted, and 97 students invited to attend insight days.

The next cohort of student volunteers are expected to start in October 2025.  

Student Futures at LJMU

LJMU is committed to enhancing its experiential learning opportunities in every undergraduate programme, providing students with the skills to meet their future employer’s business needs. The Student Futures team supports this mission through its careers, employability and start-up support services, open to all students and graduates.

It also has a dedicated Employer Engagement team that works with employers across the Liverpool City Region to provide real-world learning opportunities to boost students' skills, confidence, knowledge, professional behaviours and social capital whilst simultaneously making a tangible positive difference to the business or organisation.  

LJMU’s long-standing partnership with Merseyside Police

The university has a long track-record of working with Merseyside Police. More than 400 officers have already successfully completed the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship programme which allows individuals to earn a BSc (Hons) in Professional Policing Practice while working as a police officer.

LJMU’s Liverpool Centre for Advanced Police Studies (LCAPS) also collaborates with Merseyside Police on other policing programmes, research, innovation, and training for existing officers.