Neighbourhood Policing - the 'big idea'

The crime rate over the past decade has fallen dramatically. The problem is, no-one quite believes it. When the public is asked about the level of crime in their area their perception, very often, is that things are far worse than they are in real life.

Neighbourhood Policing is the 'big idea' that many feel can not only continue to reduce crime but also tackle the public's fear of crime. The Government is committed to having neighbourhood police teams in every area by next year (2008).

Some police forces, such as London's Met Police, are already a long way down the road to achieving this target. In other places there is still a lot to be done. Here's our guide to understanding what Neighbourhood Policing is all about and, most importantly, how local communities and groups can get involved to make it work for them.

What is Neighbourhood Policing?

Research has shown that it is often small things that get on people's nerves and make them feel unsettled - sometimes unsafe - in the neighbourhoods where they live, work and play. Neighbourhood Policing is designed to improve the quality of life and wellbeing in local communities by sorting out the problems that local people themselves say need tackling.

Neighbourhood Policing - some police forces refer to it as Safer Neighbourhoods, others Neighbourhood Management - is built on three key principles:

Dedicated teams of police officers and others who work within a particular patch and become known and familiar to the residents in that area;
A systematic way of working that is based on focussing on solving the problems that the public have told police matter most to them;
3. Neighbourhood police work closely with all sorts of other local groups and bodies to get things done. This will include local council staff, voluntary groups, businesses, criminal justice agencies and other partners brought together to tackle local issues.

How does Neighbourhood Policing work?

A neighbourhood team can be made up of police officers, police community support officers, community wardens, special constables, volunteers and partners, all working together in partnership.

The size of the area covered by a neighbourhood team will vary depending whether it is in a built-up urban area, a small town or village. In London, for example, the police teams are set up to cover a borough ward (approximately a couple of thousand houses).

Visibility is an important aspect of Neighbourhood Policing. The sight of pairs of officers patrolling local streets is fast becoming a more familiar sight.

Neighbourhood Policing also means you should know who your neighbourhood officer is, how to contact them and what they are doing to address your local crime and disorder priorities.

Details of your neighbourhood officers and how to contact them are available from your local force. For details contact your local police station or visit your force website available through using our Neighbourhood Watch finder or by going to www.police.uk.

Neighbourhood teams are tasked to work closely with residents to improve your neighbourhood. The police will continue to provide emergency and 24 hour response; but the main focus of neighbourhood policing teams will be dealing with your problems and priorities.

How can I take part?

If you are part of a neighbourhood watch group and you are in an area where Neighbourhood Policing has been launched, your co-ordinator should be in regular contact with your neighbourhood police team. If not, then make yourselves known to your local team. Many neighbourhood police teams are now compiling email lists of local residents and groups to send out crime prevention information and crime alerts.

Public consultation is at the heart of Neighbourhood Policing. Most commonly this will involve holding quarterly public meetings - in schools, church halls, pubs - wherever is convenient. Some forces make use of mobile offices and park them in local shopping centres and places where the public can pop in and make their views known.

Meet-the-public exercises come in all shapes and sizes. But the prime purpose is always the same - to provide the police with a clear picture on what the policing priorities for each area should be.

If you can't get to the meeting yourself, then make sure one of your neighbours can attend and identify the issues that are causing concern.

What is the role of Police Community Support Officers?

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), also called Community Support Officers (CSOs), provide a visible presence in the community, helping the police to tackle anti-social behaviour and offering reassurance to the public.

PCSOs are uniformed staff who deal with minor offences and support front-line policing. This includes:

Dealing with truants, graffiti, abandoned vehicles, litter, missing persons;
Helping to support victims;
Assisting with house to house enquiries; Involvement in patrolling major public events and ceremonials;
Helping to control crowds;
Protecting the public from security threats.

Some PCSOs also have powers to detain a suspect pending the arrival of a constable, and to direct traffic and remove vehicles and issue fixed penalty notices in relation to anti-social behaviour.

Last year the Government launched a recruitment drive to increase the number of PCSOs. If you are interested in finding out more, go to www.policecouldyou.co.uk

What evidence is there that Neighbourhood Policing is working?

Well, it is still early days. Last year research was carried out in a number of pilot areas where Neighbourhood Policing has been in place for three years.

Surveys, taken in 16 different local areas across eight police forces showed that:

Crime had fallen by nearly a quarter in the pilot areas
Public confidence in the police increased by a third
The public were twice as likely to be aware of foot patrols as before the pilots started.
There was a noticeable reduction in anti-social behaviour.
The percentage of people who knew police who worked in their local area by name or by sight increased six times.

The results are mirrored by the findings of an Audit Commission report 'Neighbourhood Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour' which makes clear that for a majority of people, it is their daily experience of anti-social behaviour in their streets and neighbourhoods that fuel their fears and perceptions.

Neighbourhood Watch
Let's stop teenage drivers dying
Gunning for teenage gangsters