The UK’s neighbourhood policing focus has dwindled significantly over the past decade, as forces enduring funding cuts redirected resources towards response policing and emerging complex threats; University of East London Policing Professor John Coxhead argues that although the Uplift recruitment programme has led to an increase in the workforce, pledges to recruit a new wave of neighbourhood officers will see forces facing fresh challenges around building teams from scratch, and gaining the trust and confidence of communities.
The neighbourhood officer was key to the founding tradition of policing in Britain. The concept of ‘policing by consent’ depended on the view of police as citizens in uniform – visible, local figures there to watch, listen and intervene where needed, in a community they knew and understood.
“ New figures show that these local, community-focused officers are on the decline in England and Wales. In London, there has been a 64% decline in safer neighbourhood police officers since 2015. Across the country, the figure is 27%.”
But new figures show that these local, community-focused officers are on the decline in England and Wales. In London, there has been a 64% decline in safer neighbourhood police officers since 2015. Across the country, the figure is 27%.
Lees verder via policinginsight.com