Neighbourhood Policing. Does it do what is says on the tin?

Residents' Feedback Needed

NPT Implementation review

I was at a meeting last night between Steve Currell of Essex Police, and District and Parish councillors, where the implementation of the new Neighbourhood Policing Team policy was discussed. I’m not altogether sure I understand Neighbourhood Policing, but this is what I gathered at the meeting.


Background
Neighbourhood Policing is the result of a Government White Paper embracing 10 principles, including locally known officers, and intelligence led policing, within the community. All police forces must be compliant by 2008 but the Chief Constable of Essex has pushed this through such that Essex is compliant by July 2006.

The problem with the speed of implementation is that our Neighbourhood Policing may be “missing a few tricks.” A “Health Check” of our NPTs has shown that we’re not yet compliant, according to the Home Office. The structure is in place, the boxes are ticked, but the quality isn’t there. Yet.

The implementation of NPTs has led to tensions, the increased demand has led to pressure on resources within Essex Police. There has been a change in policing style where 70% of the resources is now focused on Neighbourhood Policing, 30% on response, whereas before (if I’ve understood correctly) it was the other way round. This has resulted in policing actually being thinner in some areas. The introduction of NPTs has raised public expectation, which may mean that the police have “over-promised” and our (the public's) expectations are unrealistic.

Steve Currell is doing an in depth review of Neighbourhood Policing for the Chief Constable to address these issues. He is speaking to every officer from Chief Superintendent to Inspector, and to “focus groups” of Sergeants, PCs and PCSOs. He is speaking to public focus groups such as Neighbourhood Watch and Councils, and to members of the public in the high street. He needs as wide a range of opinion as possible.


Overview so far
Generally speaking the councillors at the meeting were very positive about the impact that NPTs have had on the policing in their areas. I raised one specific concern which I felt showed that nothing much has changed regarding response from that likely to be experienced 15 months ago. Steve said this would be followed up.


Your Thoughts and Opinions Matter
The problem I had in feeding back our experiences in Great Totham is that I had only heard of one or two instances over the last few months. I didn’t feel able to give the full picture of how NPTs have affected us in Great Totham South. Our NPT, as you should know from the newsletter is a large, rural NPT, called “Great Totham NPT”, stretching all the way round to Althorne. We do have dedicated officers to our segment, but the sergeant changed recently. The new police station at Tolleshunt D’Arcy seems to be working OK, but I haven’t had to phone the Specific Point of Contact number, or report a crime or anything. That's why we need your feedback.

One of the problems identified quite early was that if none of our NPT is on duty, the SPOC phone goes to an answer machine, and takes a message. This might not be picked up for a day or so. The SPOC number is not for a situation requiring an immediate police response, but for queries, a discussion of a situation that may be developing, for advice and so on. So the use of an answer machine is reasonable. However, it was felt that the public would want a live person at the end of the phone, so it now gets put through to Chelmsford, and if they are busy, farmed out elsewhere. This means you may be talking to someone who hasn’t a clue about the local situation.

And, thinking about it, this flies in the face of the principles of Neighbourhood Policing. I personally would rather speak to the local designated officer, not someone I may never encounter again. It's part of building up that officer/resident relationship.

So, first question for your comments:- If you need to phone the Specific Point of Contact Number would you rather,

1. Speak to an officer in the NPT, or leave a message on the NPT answer-phone if nobody is on duty at that time
2. Speak to another person if from Essex Police if none of the NPT is available?

Steve is really keen to know how Neighbourhood Policing has impacted on us.

• Are the phones working?
• Is police contact with NHW better or worse than it was before May, when NPTs were implemented?
• What is working regarding NPTs?
• More importantly if we want it fixing, what isn’t working?
• Do the public feel more involved as a community with policing their local community?

I will be drafting a questionnaire re this NPT review, and for feedback from the public re the Neighbourhood Watch in Great Totham South, which has been in operation for about 18 months now. If you have any suggestions about points you’d like raised, please make a comment, or send me a note via the Village Shop.

Oh, by the way, are people puzzled by “Evelyn”? That’s my on-line name (you never know who’s looking on the internet) You know who I am from the newsletter.

Comments.

I have set the comments on these blogs so that anyone can comment. Please be careful not to offend, even if you feel strongly about something. No libellous comments, and no swearing please (I’ve seen some blogs where my computer screen blushes). Please also respect people’s confidentiality. I will try to delete anything offensive but can’t monitor this all the time (and I’m not sure I know how to do it!).

Can you please put some sort of tag, so that if you have a specific point to raise, and there are lots of comments, you can be identified, eg “GH of Gt Totham S” or “LYH of WB”. If you are a police officer, can you say so.

Of course, you can remain anonymous, but it gives me some idea of who is reading this and feeding back if you give some indication. Your initials don’t even have to be your real initials, but for the sake of avoiding confusion (!!!) please use the same ones each time.