Policing with Communities in the UK Superintendent Alan Gibson 18 January 2016.

Policing with Communities in the UK

Superintendent Alan Gibson

18 January 2016

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge of the development of community policing in the UK and current priorities

2. Knowledge of evolving policies and changing attitudes to ‘policing communities’

3. How intelligence led policing relates to policing in different communities

4. Understanding the growth of partnerships in policing

Our session

• Lots of flavours …. • Scottish experience • Bespoke model for communities• Exert your own expertise in terms of deployment

Community Policing in the UK

• 1800 – City of Glasgow Police

• 1829 – Metropolitan Police Service, London

• Community policing stresses policing with and for the community rather than policing of the community.

• A resurgence in the latter half of the 20th Century – the public like the ‘Bobby on the Beat’

Community Policing in the UK

Traditionally characterised by …

•Visible uniform foot patrol / cycle patrol•Public / neighbourhood meetings and liaison •Partnership working •Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordination •Youth work •Hard edged ?

Community Policing in Scotland

• Police Scotland established in 2013• 8 similar, but differing approaches to ‘Community

Policing’ (officer numbers, priorities, buy-in)• Seen as the backbone to our operational delivery –

visible, approachable and accountable• 60% of resources in ‘Local Policing’ – most are

Community Police Officers• Recent shift from softer community functions to an

enforcement emphasis

The changing landscape ….

• A rightly demanding public (increasing expectations)• A public that wants to engage with the police 24/7, in

digital timescales, over a wide range of channels• An information thirsty public • Complex local / national / international issues -

Migration and resultant community impact (Govanhill)Terrorism – the potential for radicalisation

The changing landscape ….

• Targeted resource (data zones, crime analysis) • Annual Force-wide public consultation survey• Multi Member Ward policing plans (353) influence

national and local priorities • Enhancing engagement – Special Constables, Police

Scotland Youth Volunteers• A values based approach …..

Code of Ethics

• Integrity • Fairness• Respect • Human Rights

Pressures

• Budgetary – sustainability of approach?• Balancing ‘performance’ vs public confidence (e.g.

stop search)• Politicisation of policing • Intelligence led policing vs community isolation (e.g.

young people, the Muslim community)• A national police service which can meet the needs

of distinct local communities …… thinking globally and acting locally

Opportunities

• Focussed recruitment – Police Scotland needs to strive to represent the communities it serves

• Engage beyond visible policing (social media, public consultation surveys)

• Build trust and confidence – working to the Code of Ethics in every encounter

• Gain feedback through consultation • Transparency and accountability - report progress on

public set priorities• Training – upskill our people

Growth of Partnerships

• Legislative base in Scotland • Moral obligation • Financial sense …. prevention is cheaper• Truly tackles the underlying causes of crime• Frees up time and resource• Shared resources• Collaborative training and exercising • Moving to a new level in collaboration … cross sector

teams.

Discussion

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge of the development of community policing in the UK and current priorities

2. Knowledge of evolving policies and changing attitudes to ‘policing communities’

3. How intelligence led policing relates to policing in different communities

4. Understanding the growth of partnerships in policing

Questions ?