NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING
scrutiny will fall on policing through both monitoring effectiveness and demanding improved performance. As one example, Home Office figures list 5.4 million police recorded crimes year ending 31 March 2024. In one sector alone, the British Retail Consortium published its 2025 Crime Survey Report. It concluded the annual cost of retail crime at £4.2 billion. It stated annual customer thefts at £20,400,000 crimes and that incidents of violence and abuse perpetrated against retail staff was at 737,000. Each one of these crimes being committed in a high street, retail park or shopping centre commonplace in all our towns and cities. A staple of any neighbourhood patrol includes the corner shop or convenience store; the Association of Convenience Stores published its 2025 Crime Report on 13 March. The report’s findings highlighted the difficulties and dangers presented by crime on these premises as often these shops are a focal point for the public to discuss community matters with the local shop owner. The stores also act as a great touch point with the local neighbourhood bobby on the beat. Another area of concern common to all
communities are the issues surrounding domestic violence and abuse. The National Audit Office’s report, Tackling Violence against Women and Girls, published in January 2025 estimated the equivalent annual economic and social cost of domestic abuse at £84 billion. This is compounded further by 1,100,000 incidents of anti-social behaviour recorded, an annual figure
“The National Audit Office’s report,
An emphasis on neighbourhood policing is already galvanising individual force initiatives with strategies being implemented across the country in accordance with the Government’s ‘Safer Streets’ mission and the ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ programme. It is hoped that the innovative NPP training programme will not only deliver quality local police services but it will also have the bonus of acknowledging a new specialism. This Neighbourhood
Tackling Violence against Women and Girls, published in January 2025 estimated the equivalent annual economic and social cost of domestic abuse at £84 billion.”
of 1,972,843 violent crimes against an individual. This reality of one in four women being a victim of assault in their lifetime has a stark resonance. Taking these latest recorded crime figures as a yardstick illustrates what neighbourhood policing has to contend with. Routine patrol officers may attend the initial report and specialist detectives will pick up the investigation, but there remains a context of community relationships which falls squarely on the shoulders of neighbourhood policing.
Pathway Programme, combined with a focus on community intelligence led policing, will offer adaptability and flexibility within both a rural and urban environment. It will provide NPP officers
with the confidence to contribute at a deeper level for the good of both the local communities and other policing colleagues. Empowered to act - liaising, conversing, communicating in an open and trustworthy manner. Solving problems, addressing issues, offering suitable advice, de-escalating confrontation; providing protection, solace, reassurance; preventing and detecting crime, listening, whilst all the while building trust. Putting the local bobby back into the centre of community life.
37 | POLICE | APRIL | 2025
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