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VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME
MANDATE:
The mandate of the Volunteer Community Assistance Programme is to provide a quality service of information, referral and support to victims of crime, accident and circumstance; through the utilization of community volunteers trained and working under the direction of the RCMP.
GOALS:
Ensure all persons are aware of their entitlement to service.
Provide quality service to all persons who are victimized by crime and other traumatic events, in a safe manner.
Develop and maintain partnerships with all caregiving agencies which includes government and non-government.
Develop services based on the changing needs within our communities.
Liaise with other agencies/services to ensure appropriate referrals are available.
Establish procedures appropriate for service delivery.
PRIMARY SERVICE:
Followup telephone contact to offerand/or provide victims* information and referrals to appropriate agencies.
PROVISION OF PRIMARY SERVICE
Community Assistance volunteers shall be responsible for telephone contact to offer and/or provide victims* information and referrals.
Type of information may include but is not limited to the following:
Safety - personal, home & neighbourhood
Counselling/self-help services
Victim Impact Statements, Criminal Injuries Compensation, Dept. of Justice Victims' Services
"No Contact" orders
General information on Justice process
Name of investigating officer
*Victims - shall include victims of crime, accident and circumstances. "Victim" as defined in section 2 (e) of the Victims' Rights and Services Act.
The Kings Detachment has two Volunteer Community Assistance Programs. One, operated from the New Minas office which covers the New Minas, Wolfville and Berwick offices, and one which operates from the Kingston office to cover the Kingston, Greenwood and Aylesford area.  KINGS CITIZEN PATROL
The Kings Citizen Patrol is a no-funded, non-profit volunteer group operating under the umbrella of the Kings Crime Prevention Association and regulated by the Kings Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It was developed and implemented in October of 1994.
It is made up of area residents interested in assisting the police in making the community a safer place to reside. The role of the Citizen Patrol is to reduce crime in their communities by means of patrolling the area in their own vehicles, using their own gas and giving their own time, without compensation.
TRAINING
Members of the Citizen Patrol must attend training sessions prior to going on patrol. These training sessions are conducted by members of the RCMP and related agencies. The training consists of instructions in memory and observation, responsibility of the patrols, note taking an report writing, and evidence protection.
In addition to this, new members must go on two patrols with experienced members prior to going on patrol with another new member. Subsequent training sessions are conducted at regular monthly meetings held by the patrol members.
The most important aspect of the training is that the patrol in no way replaces the regular police force. The members are to act as eyes and ears for the RCMP, to observe and report.
PATROL
The patrol covers the same physical area as the New Minas, Wolfville and Berwick offices of the Kings Detachment of the RCMP. That is from the Hants/Kings County line to the 360 Highway and Berwick, and from the Bay of Fundy shore to the Lunenburg/Kings County line, and the Towns of Wolfville and Berwick. The patrols also makes observations and necessary reports to Kentville Police Service. This is an area of over 1600 sq. kilometers.
All patrols start and finish at the New Minas RCMP office. Each patrol consists of two patrol members, one a driver and the other an observer and note taker. Members are not permitted to patrol alone.
It is the intention of the Kings Citizen Patrol to have at least one patrol active each evening. The patrol time is set by the members going out on patrol, however, the average patrol lasts approximately five hours, covering 120 to 150 kilometrs.
All areas as well as times visited and observations made are recorded and filed by the patrol. At the end of each patrol, the notes and reports from the patrol are filed with the RCMP. These reports are reviewed by the Detachment Operational NCO.
If there is a requirement to contact the RCMP immediately, each patrol is equipped with a cell phone and a police two-way radio.
EQUIPMENT
Kits containing a limited amount of equipment (flashlights, traffic vests, report forms, etc.) are provided by the RCMP. Items such as first aid kits and cellular phones are paid out of funds raised by the Citizen Patrol membership. The cell phone bills are paid by the Citizen patrol in the same manner.
SOME STATISTICS
The Kings Citizen Patrol maintains an average of 55 volunteer members, and to date (June 30, 2001) the patrol had logged over 410,000 kilometers and over 28,000 volunteer hours of assistance to the RCMP.
The role of the Citizen Patrol is to reduce crime in our community by means of patrolling the area in their own vehicles, using their own gas and time, without compensation. The group is trained to observe and report any crime that may be occurring to the RCMP. Their eyes and ears are a definite asset to the police.
TO BECOME A MEMBER
Any person, 18 years of age and over, may apply to become a member of the Citizen Patrol. Applications for the patrol are available at the New Minas office of the Kings Detachment of the RCMP, 18 Jones Road.
WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR INTERESTED PERSONS!! 
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