英国斯塔福德郡警方近期发布一则广告，在当地招募志愿者免费为他们清洗并保养警车，称此举每年能帮助警方节约5500小时的时间，同时还能减少警局的支出。另外，该警局还有意让社区民众参与散发安保传单和出警翻译等工作，当然也是免费的。当地民众和一些警员均对此提出疑义，称让未经训练的志愿者参与这些工作会埋下安全隐患。发布招募广告的警局则表示，所有志愿者均需年满16岁，而且上岗前会经过严格审查和指导培训。

Staffordshire Police is hoping to save 5,500 police hours a year by getting volunteers from the community to regularly clean its fleet of vehicles.

A police force in Britain has advertised for members of the public to wash and valet its patrol cars for free in an attempt to cut costs.

Staffordshire Police is hoping to save 5,500 police hours a year by getting volunteers from the community to regularly clean its fleet of vehicles.

The idea is the latest cost-cutting idea from cash-strapped forces, which are also seeking people to work for free completing tasks such as gardening and translating.

However, it has raised concern among police officers and staff, who fear volunteers could pose a security risk.

Staffordshire Police launched its appeal for volunteers to clean cars, act as interpreters and hand out crime-fighting leaflets two weeks ago.

A spokesman said it had received a “number” of applications but could not say if any of the jobs had been filled.

The job advert posted by the force seeks car washing volunteers who would also be required to check equipment in cars and replace faulty items such as traffic cones and flashing lights.

The force also wants unpaid interpreters to work alongside officers on patrol and helpers for crime prevention campaigns.

Ben Priestley, of Unison, which represents police staff, told the Daily Mail: “The public will be very concerned that this vital work is being done by untrained volunteers who will not be subject to the same high standards of professionally employed police staff.”

PC Andy Adams, of Staffordshire Police Federation, said: “With this sort of thing they may look at other roles in the organisation where they can push it a little bit further.

“I would like to think that all these people are properly vetted and accredited but that will of course cost money.”

All volunteers must be at least 16 and are to be vetted and given an induction course before they can start work, the force said.

Assistant Chief Constable Julian Blazeby said he thought local people would be “keen to get involved” in helping their local force.

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(Agencies)

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）