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The College of Policing has launched a new training programme aimed at professionalising neighbourhood policing. The national rollout takes place during Neighbourhood Policing Week and marks the first time that neighbourhood officers will receive dedicated training in line with other specialist areas.
The number of dedicated neighbourhood officers has decreased in recent years, and in many police forces those officers often find themselves being abstracted to other areas, such as emergency responses, reducing the time they have available to spend time in their role within their local community.
Separately, public trust and confidence in policing is at some of its lowest levels across the UK. Yet there is substantial evidence that, when delivered effectively, community-based policing approaches can be an integral part in improving the public’s trust and confidence in the police.
“The Neighbourhood Policing Programme will support forces across the country to provide a consistent, high standard for their communities while still maintaining the strong local element that we know is so important.
“Officers will be able to put the training into practice straight away. Whether it’s knowing which powers to use to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour blighting a local community, or combatting organised crime through gathering valuable intelligence, this training ensures that all neighbourhood officers – not just those with many years of experience – have the skills and knowledge to help their communities.”
Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh, CEO of the College of Policing
Officers who complete the training will gain certifications, establishing neighbourhood policing as a recognised specialism akin to detective work. It forms a key part of the government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee within the government’s Safer Streets mission, and is being rolled out nationally after a successful year-long pilot.
“This Government’s Plan for Change puts neighbourhood policing at the heart of the action to tackle crime. It is vital that no matter where you live, your local neighbourhood officers are trained with the specialist skills to tackle the issues plaguing your communities.
“This new programme from the College of Policing will deliver high standards across the country, end the postcode lottery in policing and restore neighbourhood officers.”
Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson
Around 1,100 officers from 11 forces took part in the initial pilot, with evaluations showing positive results: around three quarters of participants found the online training relevant to their role, and 80% felt confident applying knowledge obtained throughout. Forces which trialled the first three modules of the new training included the Met, as well as rural and coastal settings like North Wales and Devon and Cornwall, all with different issues, communities, and levels of deprivation.
With the pilot now complete, the College is launching the programme to all remaining Home Office police forces throughout England and Wales.
The training was developed using a base of academic evidence, with added practical experience and six years worth of data. The College spoke to colleagues across policing to understand what the modern requirements of neighbourhood policing are, utilising both national knowledge and local knowledge.
Six modules of learning feature in the training:
- Community Engagement
- Problem Solving
- Anti-social Behaviour
- Working in Partnership to Prevent and Reduce Crime
- Protecting Communities from Serious and Organised Crime
- Offender Management – Breaking the Cycle of Crime
Chief Superintendent Andy Sidebotham introduced the College of Policing’s new dedicated training in a joint session with Assistant Chief Constable Michelle Shooter, the national lead for neighbourhood policing.
“We’re proud to be supporting officers, PCSOs, and volunteers with resources and training to help them do their jobs to the best of their ability. By equipping neighbourhood teams with the skills and knowledge they need, we can both cut crime and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the police.”
Chief Superintendent Andy Sidebotham
The first phase of the national rollout begins this week with the release of a 20-part online training series, followed by classroom-based modules later in the year. Forces will be able to use their own trainers or associate trainers provided by the College.
Read about how the National Police Air Service is supporting neighbourhood policing from the sky, and the Met’s new app to keep Londoners in the loop with community crime-fighting.
