Despite the bad reputation they may receive in the news or other forms of media, many police forces, composed of dedicated and hard-working individuals, strive to keep us safe each and every day, whether we realize or see what they’re doing or not.

Maybe you want to help your community too, and you’re wondering what a ‘normal’ citizen can actually do to help the local police force other than ringing them up to report a crime? Well, you actually wield a surprising larger amount of power than that.

Social media can have more of an impact than you realize.

Yes, social media can have an influence on law authorities. Not only have criminals foolishly given away incriminating information online, but everyday citizens have posted information online that law enforcement authorities have used to save lives. The instantaneous nature of the internet allows people to report incidents and crimes faster than ever before, but it also allows police forces to react to crimes faster than ever before.

As well as reacting to events if they should ever occur, you can also react to information police forces post online. Local law departments will often post information about wanted criminals, or even missing children, and, through the power of the internet, such information can be shared rapidly throughout all people who might know said criminal or victim in the local area. If you have details about anything you see posted on social media, you can respond to your law department quickly (and anonymously, if needed) to help them prevent a crime or save a life.

Reacting to police warnings on the road could also save lives.

Police are out on the streets day in and out, responding to distress calls and sometimes simply keeping an eye on things, to ensure they can react immediately or even prevent a crime before it happens.

Of course, the problem with working out on the streets, whether it’s in a busy town center or along a main road, is that law enforcement must contend with the vast number of pedestrians and fellow drivers that might obstruct their duty or simply make things difficult for them. The best way to help police authorities, then, is to respond quickly, but safely, to police vehicle lights, as the police force is acting in your best interests. By slowing down on approach to a road accident, or pulling over when you see a vehicle heading your way, you could be helping to prevent further accidents or a terrible crime, respectively.

You could be volunteering in your local community.

In an organisation dedicated to public service, whether you want a full-time career as a police officer or simply want to help out your community in your spare time, law enforcement agencies are always looking for more people to help them out. The only thing stopping you is you.

So, whether you want to help by picking up litter, starting a neighborhood watch group along your street, every little helps. Policing is about security and safety for all people, so anything you can do to keep people, whether friends or strangers, safe from harm is a service to the police force.

This post has been contributed by Ryan Gatt, it may contain affiliate links.