Putting a neighbourhood policing team into every community was one of the most important public service reforms of the last Labour government. It is under serious threat from record levels of cuts in policing reported this weekend. However, it is also under threat from those who wilfully choose to ignore the fact that neighbourhood policing is not just about putting ‘bobbies on the beat’, it is about fundamental change in the relationship between police forces and the people they serve.
I was sad and angry at the weekend to hear chief constable Chris Sim of West Midlands Police use the phrase ‘outmoded street based activity’ when talking about cuts to neighbourhood policing. He has a strong record of delivering neighbourhood policing and using it to deliver innovative ways of dealing with crime at a local level. Another senior police commentator used the phrase ‘comfort blanket’ to describe it. Even though they are having to deliver policing with enormous reductions in funding, these police leaders are profoundly wrong to turn their back on a crucial reform.
Of course, we are continuously faced with new crime challenges. There is a serious threat from cyber crime which will need new methods to counter it. But it is hard to imagine any crime or terror threat which would not be more easily tackled with the cooperation and involvement of people beyond those working as police officers.
Neighbourhood policing is the natural extension of a British model of policing which believes that policing needs to operate by consent. In fact, to face the challenges of maintaining order and tackling crime in modern Britain, we need to go beyond policing by consent to policing by partnership and involvement. It is precisely when financial times are tough that we need communities who are confident to report crime, to tackle the causes and to act as witnesses where necessary. All of these things are promoted by neighbourhood teams building long term relationships with the communities they serve; getting to know local people including those likely to fall into trouble; identifying the trouble spots before they escalate and building confident communities able to contribute to policing not just to be the ‘consenting’ recipients of it.
I know chief constables are facing difficult times. I will support their need to make tough choices, but I will not support them when they make the wrong choices.
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Jacqui Smith is a former home secretary, writes the Monday Politics column for Progress, and tweets @Jacqui_Smith1
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