GUEST COLUMN


INTELLIGENCE AND COMMUNITY TRUST IN POLICING


As British policing evolves amid global and technological pressures, Steve Dodds, former South Wales Police detective constable, explores the enduring value and future challenges of community intelligence-led neighbourhood policing


Policing in Britain stands at a crossroads. As technology advances at a relentless pace and society faces pressures from globalisation, the very essence of neighbourhood policing – built on Peel’s principle of policing by consent – faces both profound challenges and unique opportunities. Sir Robert Mark, former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, captured the heart of British policing in 1973 when he wrote: “There is no doubt that the operational effectiveness of the force is to a very large extent dependent upon the goodwill, co-operation and support of members of the general public.” Half a century later, that truth endures. Yet,


46 | POLICE | OCTOBER | 2025


the landscape around it has transformed almost beyond recognition


A GLOBALISED CRIME SCENE Globalisation over the last three


“The human cornerstone of policing remains the local officer – the one who walks the beat, listens to community concerns, and builds trust face-to-face.”


decades has reshaped society, creating a metaphorically smaller world with vast, often unintended, consequences. Borders have blurred for commerce and culture,


but also for international organised crime. Human trafficking, drug smuggling, and financial fraud have expanded into multinational enterprises, while evolving technologies have fuelled cybercrime, online child abuse, and digital fraud at a pace that regulation has struggled to match. Policing has responded with impressive innovation. Specialist units now harness artificial intelligence, facial recognition, unmanned aerial vehicles, and advanced digital forensics. National initiatives such as the


Science and Innovation Coordination Committee and the Digital, Data and Technology Coordination Committee drive these efforts, ensuring forces across


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