COLLEGE OF POLICING
NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAMS ARE THE HEART OF POLICING
Sergeant Sarah Merrall and Superintendent Andy Sidebotham have worked in neighbourhood policing for a large part of their career and are now championing local policing on a secondment to the College of Policing
Nottinghamshire Police While Andy has been a Superintendent in neighbourhood policing at Greater Manchester Police for 7 years. Both fully recognise just how important trust and confidence in their work is. Sarah says that communities deserve to see visible policing that listens to and understands their needs with openness. Andy continues, that while there are many important areas of policing, for most people, what they actually see day to day is neighbourhood policing.
With the new year bringing both a new Code of Ethics and Neighbourhood Policing Week, they take some time to reflect on how neighbourhood teams are vital to trust and confidence in policing. Andy explains that
He says “They recognise their local officers and that’s what makes it really special. They want officers to be friendly
“neighbourhood policing teams are the voice of the community within wider policing and are critical to making the places where they live and work better”. Sarah adds that the work is “absolutely at the heart of British policing, and that excellent neighbourhood policing is essential to provide positive encounters with the police”. Sarah has been a neighbourhood policing sergeant for 12 Years with
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wider policing and are critical to making the places where they live and work better.”
faces they can talk to, and to care about issues that are important to them. They want consistency in their problems being dealt with and taken seriously.” This dedication to the best possible public service is key and in a nutshell is what the Code of Ethics is all about - its supporting people to do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reasons.
“Neighbourhood policing teams are the voice of the community within
Andy believes that respect and empathy are essential in engaging communities. The new code of ethics will help with the day job, he says, and will support teams in their jobs. Andy says the new Code’s three components of respect and empathy, courage and public service are already a key part of neighbourhood policing. Sarah agrees: “Everything within the code is how policing should be, it ultimately comes down to how we want people to see us in policing. How could you possibly trust somebody if they don’t have good ethics?” In January, the College joined forces up and down the country to once again put a spotlight on Neighbourhood policing. This provided a chance to recognise the great work we know is happening and to give some additional guidance and support to officers throughout. Our knowledge-sharing events provided a platform to recognise just a few of the many examples. It was also a chance to reflect on how neighbourhood teams can use their expertise to work with wider policing to deliver the best possible service. Andy notes that, for example, many murder investigation teams have
used the local intelligence and know- how of a police community support officer to solve a case. Sarah points out that the new Code gives policing a chance to say this is what we believe in and this is who we are, which is really important in the current climate. You can find out more on the College of Policing website.
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