About the Department

The Police Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network is responsible for the prevention and investigation of crime, the maintenance of public order and the safety of staff of member organisations, citizens and visitors at the sites of the Velocity Interoperability Network. It provides 24-hour patrol and response cover at the six principal sites, operates a police station and a community policing team at each of them, investigates recorded crime and issues police certificates.

The Department was established on 6 September 2026. It took over the security and crime-reporting functions previously carried out by member organisations at their own sites, and the 412 sworn officers and 96 civilian staff who carried them out were transferred to the Department during the four-week transition period that preceded establishment. The public counters of its six stations open between 7 and 11 September 2026; their locations and hours are set out on the Police Stations page.

The Department polices the sites of the Network only. Matters arising beyond the sites are referred to the authority responsible for the place concerned, and the Department cooperates with that authority where an offence spans both. Prosecutions arising from the Department's investigations are brought before the courts of the Network, and complaints about the conduct of officers are considered under arrangements that will be announced in the Newsroom once they are agreed with the Justice Department.

Responsibilities. The Department's work falls into six areas.

Patrol and response

Round-the-clock patrol of the six principal sites of the Network and response to reported crime and incidents, with a target attendance time of fifteen minutes for emergencies at a principal site.

Community policing

A community policing team at every principal site, responsible for the smaller sites nearby, holding weekly public sessions and working to priorities drawn from recorded crime.

Investigation of crime

Investigation of recorded offences, from theft and criminal damage to fraud and cyber-enabled crime, and the preparation of cases for the courts of the Network.

Police stations and property

Public counters at six stations for reporting crime, handing in found property and collecting lost property, and custody facilities at Central Exchange and Southbank.

Certificates and records

Police certificates and criminal record extracts for staff and citizens, issued from the Department's records, and the maintenance of the record of offences and outcomes.

Safety advice and statistics

Published advice on personal safety, property and fraud, and quarterly statistical releases on recorded crime, incidents attended and the capacity of the Department.

Structure. The Department is organised in three commands and a support directorate, each headed by a commander who reports to the Commissioner. The strength of each at establishment is shown below.

Officers are sworn to the service of the Network as a whole and may be deployed to any site. Community support officers are civilian members of the community policing teams with limited powers, who patrol, take reports and staff public sessions but do not make arrests.

For the Department's origins and the milestones since its establishment, see History; for its first statistical release, see Statistics. General enquiries may be sent to contact@police.gov.vin.