Neighbourhood Policing
Neighbourhood policing is about local policing; police, partners and the community working together to identify and tackle issues of concern in the local policing area. Not every community is the same, all have different demographics and all have different issues and different levels of concern. Most, if not all have some form of business representation, the Co-operative for example being located in the heart of the communities its serves.
In order to support the communities in which it trades the co-operative is leading by engaging with key decision policy makers and those responsible for enforcement. This engagement is leading to the development of structured and supported advice to management and staff in the retail sector to identify the manner in which business can successfully interact with Law Enforcement Agencies for the benefit of the community. This action is in support of the National Policing Improvement Agencies (NPIA) guidance on how the Police can engage with business.
Neighbourhood Policing is provided by teams of police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), often together with Special Constables, local authority wardens, volunteers and partners.
In some areas, Neighbourhood Policing may be known as Safer Neighbourhoods or another locally decided name.
FAQ’s.
Q. So how do I find out how to contact my local neighbourhood policing team?
In England and Wales, all Police Services provide information on how to contact your local neighbourhood policing team. Follow the links which will direct you to your relevant constabulary. Each Force web site also provides information on the local policing priorities.
http://www.police.uk/forces.htm
Q. How can the business community get involved or assist local policing?
The National Police Improvement Agency have produced a Neighbourhood Policing Business Guide which although is a guide for Police Operational Practitioners, outlines good practice that could be adopted by business.
www.neighbourhoodpolicing.co.uk/publication.asp
Q. Is there any other Government advice as to how business can get involved?
The Co-operative Group has supported the Home Office and the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to produce and publish two guides on how to tackle crimes against business. One is for businesses, giving practical tips including how they can get themselves heard locally and identify organisations that can help them tackle crime. The second guide is for business crime partnerships, with advice on how they can engage with business, influence local priorities and promote their partnerships. These sit alongside guidance for Neighbourhood Police Teams on engaging with business at a local level, recently published by the National Police Improvement Agency. These have been published on the BERR website and the Home Office Crime Reduction site.