Ride Along Scheme

The Ride Along scheme offers members of the public the chance to join our officers on patrol and experience daily policing first-hand.

You can gain a practical insight into police work across all our routine patrol activities.

Who the scheme is open to

To apply for this scheme, you:

• must be aged 18 or over
• should be living in Gwent (if you live outside of Gwent, please contact your local police force to see if they have a similar scheme)

You'll need to fill in a consent form and pass a criminal record check. Having a previous conviction doesn't necessarily mean you can't use the scheme. We review each application on a case-by-case basis. If your application is rejected, you will be notified in writing.

If you have a disability or medical condition, reasonable adjustments will be made to accommodate you. However, your welfare will always be paramount. If certain aspects of policing activity may not be suitable for you, we will arrange an alternative observation opportunity.

Who you ride along with

You will be able to request which local authority area in Gwent you would like to be based in for the Ride Along. In your chosen area, you can join officers from the following teams:

Neighbourhood Policing team

Neighbourhood police officers aim to make life safer and better for everyone in Gwent. They work with partners, organisations, and the public to address community issues such as anti-social behaviour.

Response team

These officers are the first responders in emergency situations, this could be anything from a burglary to an assault.

What to expect

The aim of the scheme is for us to strengthen relationships with the public and help people understand more about how we police. You'll get an insight into what it’s like to be a police officer on shift and an opportunity to experience an unrivalled view of front-line policing.

The experience is useful if you're considering policing as a career. The officer you are paired with can give you their experience of joining Gwent Police, as well as some current literature to explain how the current process looks.

Alternatively, you'll be able to give feedback to police from your perspective as a member of the community.

On the day, we'll ask you to sign a confidentiality agreement and give you an observer briefing sheet.

How long a Ride Along lasts

A Ride Along experience can last between one and six hours. It can vary depending on the patrol you are taken on, but can also be cut short in the event of an emergency. You’ll be contacted with details of your patrol prior to the Ride Along.

What to wear and bring

When on patrol, you’ll be provided with a high visibility jacket. This will be marked “Sylwedydd/Observer”.

We recommend wearing clothing and footwear that is comfortable and suitable for the weather.

You must also have a working and charged mobile phone on you.

Safety

We have a duty of care towards you, members of the public with whom you may come into contact with, and our police officers and staff.

Every effort will be made to get you as close to the work of frontline police officers as possible. However, there may be occasions where a Ride Along experience are cut short, due to emergency situations or conditions where you may be at risk.

How to apply

To apply, please fill in our online application form. We'll ask you for your contact details, date of birth, why you want to join the scheme and what you want to achieve during the day.

It can take a number of weeks for us to process applications. This depends heavily on demand.

We'll notify you by email if your ride along request is approved and send you instructions for the day.

Please note that all applicants will be subject to security checks prior to applications being approved. In the event of an applicant being rejected, you will receive an email explaining why. We will only accept one application per person in a 12-month period. Repeat applications within this period will be automatically closed.