March 2026 - Community Policing and Partnership Working

ONLINE LEARNING

Cohort 11 - March 2026

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Community Policing and Partnership Working

ONLINE LEARNING

This module must be completed to comply with the Police Constable Entry Programme (PECP) curriculum on the National Graduate Leadership Programme. The module should take around 90 minutes to complete and does not need to completed all at once. You can return to the module as often as you like. Please aim to complete this module by Thursday 30th April 2026.

CONTENT WARNING

Today we will be learning and talking about Community Policing and Partnership Working.​ Some of the content may be emotive and for some may cause upset and distress. ​ ​ Please look after yourselves during this online learning.​​ ​ We are here if you need to talk.

PCEP OBJECTIVES

Examine the function and key issues relevant to community policing

How to maximise communication with individuals, community stakeholders and communities (including faith communities)

Importance of community policing, including;

• Understanding neighbourhoods and communities
• Development of, and differences betwen community policing in recent decades
• Impact of politics on community policing

Community Policing and Partnership Working

AIMS OF COMMUNITY POLICING

Partnership working - To develop effective partnerships within the community.

Stronger Communities - To develop a resilient and cohesive community.

Public Perceptions - To restore public trust in the police and foster a positive and collaborative relationship.

Reduced crimes - To identify issues affecting the community, developing a problem solving approach to addressing them.

Community Policing and Partnership Working

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS AND COMMUNITIES

When referring to 'community' we tend to use the term in the context of neighbourhood policing and in relation to setting local priorities. The need for community engagement and advice on how to effectively engage with communities is outlined by Section 34 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act (2011), which provides a legal requirement for chief officers to make arrangements to consult with the public in each neighbourhood, provide local information about crime and policing and hold regular public meetings. Click on the below icons to see a number of ways this may present:

Community stakeholders

Visibility

Community mapping

School visits

Beat meetings

Importance of community policing, including;

• Development of, and differences betwen community policing in recent decades
• Impact of politics on community policing

2010s

2000s

1990s

1980s

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COMMUNITY POLICING OVER THE DECADES

1980s

"Out of touch with the people"

Cited by Lord Scarman after the Brixton riots, the reputation of the Police in the 1980s was severely damaged.With allegations of racism, violence, falsifying evidence and strained community tensions, the public had lost faith in the Police. The need to rebuild a connection between the Police and the community was highlighted.

1984

1981

Click on each to find out more

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Government: Conservative

1990s

"Tough on crime"

A marked shift towards partnership, prevention and public engagement aimed to rebuild the mistrust from the 80s, emphasising proactive crime prevention and closer community collaboration. The 90s saw decentralisation, allowing local police forces to tailor strategies to local needs and was influenced by policy changes such as the Crime and Disorder Act. Despite this, community policing faced challenges, notably, effectiveness concerns and corruption.

Click on each to find out more

Government: Conservative followed by Labour

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2000s

"Shoulder to shoulder"

The 2000s were a period of significant change and challenge for policing in Britain, characterised by evolving threats, increased demands for accountability and efforts to modernise the service. With the advancement of new technologies creating both broader scoping crimes, as well as opportunities to enhance operational effectiveness and data sharing. The early 2000s also saw the introduction and expansion of Community Support Officers.

Click on each to find out more

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Government: Labour

2010s

"Remain or leave"

2010s were marked by political polarisation, technological advancements and social movements. Key moments include Brexit, significant terror attacks globally, impacting politics and policing by heightening security concerns. Within policing the decade saw increased focus on counter terrorism and cybercrime. Social movements like Black Lives Matter highlighted issues of racial bias and police accountability, leading to calls for reform.

Click on each to find out more

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Government: Conservative

Community Policing and Partnership Working

ACTIVITY

Click the pencil icon in the top right corner to draw. Alternatively, use a piece of paper and pen to complete this activity off screen.

Consider the 2020s. Create a timeline of key events that have shaped policing and legislation.

Question

Importance of community policing, including:

• Increasing public confidence and trust in the police service, including for women and girls.

• Using data to profile neighbourhoods and communities.
• Types of community e.g., harder to reach/hear, hiden and open communities and communities of interest.

Community Policing and Partnership Working

INCREASING PUBLIC TRUST IN THE POLICE, INCLUDING WOMEN AND GIRLS

Although police forces are prioritising efforts to address Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), a significant trust deficit persists. Concerns remain regarding both the handling of VAWG cases and public perceptions of police involvement in offences against women, particularly following high-profile incidents such as the murder of Sarah Everard and other crimes committed by serving officers. The video highlights strategies to better understand and address the cultural mistrust that women and girls harbour towards the police.

POLICE AND BLACK COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Community Policing and Partnership Working

Policing has a difficult history in its relationships with Black communities, with historic reports of issues, inequality and institutional racism. Confidence levels in policing are lowest among Black communities, particularly surrounding use of policing powers.

1985

2011

1970

1958

1980

1981

2020

1993

Community Policing and Partnership Working

INCREASING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE BY MITIGATING COMMUNITY TRAUMA

Community trauma refers to a shared experience that affects a whole group or subsection of society, rather than an individual. In order to understand and mitgate the trauma faced by groups, officers should engage with individuals, community stakeholders and communities (including faith communities). This is to not only improve the relationship between the police and the community, but effectively tailor support. Officers should identify own barriers to their understanding of a community's history and encourage an open and candid dialogue to tackle issues such as racism, misogyny and distrust.

Dialogue

Challenge

Reporting

Communication

Community Policing and Partnership Working

CASE STUDY: LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE AND COMMUNITIES TOGETHER (LPACT)

Community events held to proactively engage with local black communities.

Impact

Aim

Outcomes

Description

Find out more

Cutting-edge science and technology are set to transform policing, with strong neighborhood teams forming the foundation of every force across the country, according to National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Chair Chief Constable Gavin Stephens. In outlining his vision for reform, Chief Constable Stephens emphasized that rebuilding public trust and confidence requires bold changes rather than incremental improvements. Since taking office in March 2023, the NPCC Chair has identified four key areas of reform to create a safer society: enhancing effectiveness in addressing criminality from local neighborhoods to global networks, leveraging innovation by leading in UK science and technology, prioritizing leadership, training, and the wellbeing of police personnel, and ensuring long-term financial resilience for a well-funded police service that supports the UK economy. This section explores how technology is utilized both in policing and in addressing common criminal activities facilitated by technological advancements. The full summit can be viewed for further insights on the left.

USING DATA AND TECHNOLOGY TO UNDERSTAND COMMUNITIES

Question

Importance of community policing

• Demand and shared priorities for partner organisations

• How legislation has the potential to contribute to disporportionate policing
• Importance of applying the essence of the law to comply with legislation and support community relationships

Community Policing and Partnership Working

DEMAND AND SHARED PRIORITIES FOR PARTNERS

The goal of neighbourhood policing is to improve the quality of life and safety in the communities they serve. The essence of policing is in building trust with the community, collaborating closely with individuals, and applying a variety of problem-solving techniques in collaboration with partners to tackle challenges that affect communities.

Issues

PARTNERS

Community Policing and Partnership Working

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

ROLES

SUPPORT

BARRIERS

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Community Policing and Partnership Working

ISSUES IN COMMUNITY POLICING

Understanding neighbourhoods

Using data

Types of community

Demand and priorities

Risk, vulnerability and harm

Question

Community Policing and Partnership Working

SECTION 60 CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC ORDER ACT 1994

Police powers to stop and search under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 are specifically used to prevent and detect the carrying of dangerous instruments or offensive weapons. Over time, governments have made changes to this controversial legislation, which has the potential to contribute to disproportionate policing.

1994

Auust

2008

2014

Introduction of power

2022

The Criminal Justice Alliance suggest that 'suspicion-less' searches exacerbate discrimination, finding that Black people are 18 times as likely to be stopped under Section 60 than White people). This can induce trauma, undermine community co-operation and impede police effectiveness.

Community Policing and Partnership Working

APPLYING THE ESSENCE OF THE LAW

The essence of the law is important because it helps people to understand and respect the underlying principles of the law, creating a society that is equal, fair and just. When this is communicated to communities, communities are more likely to comply with legislation. This compliance, in turn, fosters trust in policing and other legal institutuions.

PCEP OBJECTIVES

Examine the function and key issues relevant to community policing

How to maximise communication with individuals, community stakeholders and communities (including faith communities)

Aims and benefits of effective engagement

Aims and benefits of effective engagement

Building Trust and Confidence

Improving Public Safety

Promoting Transparency and Accountability

Encouraging Community Collaboration

Enhancing Policing Strategies

Transactional

Feedback

Social Exchange

Approaches to Communication

Cultural Awareness

Community Oriented

Active Listening

Question

Enhancing trust and confidence in policing and maximising community cohesion Using community engagement to inform policing practice and encourage future co-operation

Enhancing trust and confidence in policing and maximising community cohesion

COMMUNITY PANELS AND MEETINGS

These meetings are a method of engagement where members of the local community, including residents and community leaders, meet regularly with officers to discuss issues affecting the area. These meetings are structured to provide a platform for open dialogue, allowing community members to voice concerns, share feedback, and collaborate with key stakeholders to find solutions to local challenges.

Dialogue

Priorities

Transparency

Communication

Accountability

Enhancing trust and confidence in policing and maximising community cohesion

Partnership working

Police community engagement efforts should be closely aligned with initiatives developed by partner organisations, including those in the voluntary sector. This collaboration helps prevent duplication of efforts and ensures that a broad range of relevant information and insights informs the delivery of policing services. Enhancing public confidence relies on coordinated service delivery at the frontline. Engaging in partnerships fosters a holistic approach to improving safety and well-being while boosting confidence in the effectiveness of local service delivery overall. Successful engagement between police, partners, and communities requires a thorough understanding of local demographics and an up-to-date awareness of community interests, needs, and priorities. Engagement strategies should be tailored to reflect how different communities prefer to interact with police and safety partners, ensuring an inclusive approach that consistently involves all sections of the community, including under-represented groups. Priorities and service delivery strategies should be guided by concerns identified by the community, supported by ongoing dialogue, responsive actions, and transparent communication of outcomes. Collaboration with community groups and individuals is essential to delivering services that enhance safety and wellbeing effectively. You can read about successful partnership working on the links here.

Enhancing trust and confidence in policing and maximising community cohesion

INDEPENDANT ADVISORY GROUPS

Independent Advisory Groups (IAGs) should represent the diversity of local communities and provide valuable advice to police forces on policies and procedures. By fostering trust and confidence, IAGs help law enforcement understand how policies and actions may impact different community groups within the area.Incorporating IAGs or community cohesion groups is crucial for strengthening community relationships. These groups can offer insights and guidance on effectively engaging with under-represented or hard-to-reach community members, enhancing inclusivity and collaboration.

Several formally established groups already exist within the force, and it is important to familiarise yourself with these.

• Disability advisory groups

• Gypsy and traveller advisory groups

• LGBT+ advisory groups

• Youth groups

COMMUNITY IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

Enhancing trust and confidence in policing and maximising community cohesion

Community Impact Assessments (CIAs) can highlight local tensions and provide evidence of the impact of events on specific areas or communities. Documented CIAs help forces assess disruptions, inform command teams, and improve decision-making. Weekly Community Tension Summaries (CTSs) can incorporate insights from CIAs. Including CIAs in planning ensures transparency, legitimacy, and proportionality in the policing response. Equality impact assessments should also be conducted to address the broader equality implications of events or operations.

Community Impact Assessments (CIAs) and Community Tension Summaries (CTSs) are valuable tools for capturing the opinions and sentiments of local communities. These insights can then contribute to the broader national understanding of unrest and community-related issues.

Using community engagement to inform policing practice and encourage future co-operation

Some forces are now using online monitoring tools to track and follow web-based conversations. Monitoring tools have been designed to track online conversations, identify emerging issues and monitor the online communities most influential to the police. These help to:

• understand the policing issues that people are talking about online.
• decide how best to engage with communities to impart confidence in the police.
• Engage with communities and work together to understand and respond to the needs of their communities.

Highlighting hot topics and emerging issues in social media enables the police to identify which sites are generating the most positive and negative comments about them. This helps them to spot the most active communities discussing the police, and find out their opinions in such discussions. This can help the police when developing a social media strategy. Understanding more about how communities talk to each other helps forces to find the right voice.

Challenges

Community resistance

Resources

Communication barriers

Competing priorities

Question

Importance and value of information provision Impact of engagement on police legitimacy and community confidence

Importance and value of information provision

Importance and value of information provision

In neighbourhood policing, information provision is crucial for building trust, preventing crime, and improving public safety. It enables better engagement, where communities share insights on local issues, helping police target resources effectively. It aids in intelligence gathering, crime prevention, and data-driven decision-making. Additionally, transparent communication ensures accountability, enhancing public confidence. Evaluating crime data and community feedback helps measure the impact of shared information, refining policing strategies. Ultimately, information provision strengthens community-police relationships, reduces crime, and ensures a more secure, informed, and engaged public. Its value lies in its role in proactive, effective, and trusted policing.

Impact of engagement on police legitimacy and community confidence

Impact of engagement on police legitimacy and community confidence

Engagement between the police and the community significantly impacts police legitimacy and community confidence. Active engagement builds trust by showing the police care about community concerns, while transparency and accountability in communication enhance perceptions of fairness. When the police engage respectfully, it fosters cooperation, encouraging communities to share vital information and collaborate on crime prevention. This engagement also strengthens the perceived legitimacy of the police, as communities see them as working for the public good. Ultimately, positive engagement leads to higher confidence in police actions, creating a collaborative environment that benefits both law enforcement and the public.You can read more about how your colleagues have used their community initiatives to foster community cohesion and make an impact.

Impact of engagement on police legitimacy and community confidence

Impact of engagement on police legitimacy and community confidence

Jacob joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 2020 through Police Now’s National Graduate Leadership Programme. He tackled long-standing antisocial behavior (ASB) at a property on his ward, which included Class A drug use and abuse of residents. Using covert and overt techniques, plain-clothed patrols, and securing a warrant, Jacob obtained a closure order leading to the tenant’s eviction. He also safeguarded the evicted tenant and collaborated with the council and police colleagues to improve multi-agency working. His efforts enhanced local trust, with residents reporting improved safety and even hosting a celebratory barbecue. Strong relationships led to further intelligence and effective policing outcomes. Watch the video and learn more about Jacob's story.

PC Jacob Davies

Impact of engagement on police legitimacy and community confidence

Impact of engagement on police legitimacy and community confidence

Police Constable Safyaan Javid joined West Midlands Police in 2020 through the National Graduate Leadership Programme. He shared: “I initially thought I couldn’t be a police officer because I had a stammer… I met a police officer in West Midlands Police who had a slight stammer as well and that really inspired me.” Over the past year, PC Javid has worked across various areas to tackle crime and develop community projects. “Each area has its own complexities and challenges, and I have been able to bring awareness to important issues and proactively reduce crime.”As Faith Forum Lead in Birmingham East, he uses his fluency in four languages to strengthen relationships between police, community members, and faith leaders. He collaborates with Muslim faith leaders to establish a forum for Asian women, providing support for victims of domestic violence and career development. Additionally, he leads “Mental Health Mondays,” creating focus groups with the community, officers, and faith leaders to build a collaborative approach to crime prevention. “It is so important to push forward with changes like this and, no matter your rank, be brave enough to propose new approaches to policing.”

PC Safyaan Javid

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2005 - 7/7

The events of suicide bombings targeting London's public transport system underscored the threat of domestic terrorism and led to intensified efforts in counter terrorism, community policing to prevent radicalisation and the enhancement of the emergency response capabilities.

Statutory Partnerships and Voluntary Partnerships

The roles within these partnerships include:

• Local authorities
• Serious crime agencies
• Community stakeholders
• Social services
• Drug and substance misuse support hubs
• Health care providers

Child Q

BLM

Child Q, who was 15 at the time, was strip-searched after being wrongly accused of possessing drugs, with no appropriate adult present at a school in Hackney, east London.The police officers involved faced a misconduct hearing. The allegations include that they discriminated against her due to her race and gender. The incident led to many protests breaking out in London, namely cataloguing many recent abuses of women by police, Diane Abbott, the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, said: “What we are seeing is a pattern of police abuse of power in relation to women, particularly black women.”

Large protests were held across the United Kingdom. Many protests were organised by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Stand Up to Racism movements. As well as providing solidarity to protests in the United States, following the murder of George Floyd. Many of the ongoing protests in the United Kingdom were highlighting issues with racism faced from law enforcement in the United Kingdom. Clashes between protesters and police occurred on multiple occasions in central London. .

BREXIT

The process and aftermath of Brexit created a climate of uncertainty and division within communities, exacerbating existing tensions and fostering new ones, particularly around issues of national identity, immigration and sovereignty. Brexit posed challenges in maintaining trust and cohesion in diverse communities, as the Police navigated increased hate crimes and racially motivated incidents and large scale protests.

To create a detailed view of the community, data from arrests, crime and disorder surveys, PCC priorities and intelligence gathered from other faculties can be used to inform issues such as hot spots and levels of anti-social behaviour, however, it does not create a full picture as to the impact the community may be facing. Data should be used in collaboration with community engagement and academia to inform a more holistic approach.

Community Stakeholders

It is important to identify who the key stakeholders within a community are. Particularly within sections of the community which feel they may not have a voice or a positive relationship with the police. This can include developing relationships within places of worship, local authority as well as networks and alliances representing under-represented minorities.

Volunteering opportunities In some cases, people will want to play a more active role in the policing of their local areas. This might include:

• Participating in problem-solving initiatives (for example, clear-up days)
• Neighbourhood watch or citizen patrol scheme
• Volunteering for the police or partner organisations
• Ride Along schemes

1993 - Murder of Stephen Lawrence

The murder of Stephen Lawrence and the subsequent handling of the case, severely impacted public trust in the police, particularly among ethnic minority communities. The investigation was marred by institutional racism, incompetence and a failure to prosecute the perpetrators. The public outcry led to the Macpherson Report (1999) which concluded that the Metropolitan Police Service was institutionally racist and recommended significant reforms.

Some community groups, including ethnic minorities and LGBTQIA+ populations, may present challenges in terms of accessibility and harbour historical mistrust. This underscores the necessity for designated points of contact or community liaison officers. It is imperative to demonstrate compassion and an eagerness to understand the historical and personal experiences that have shaped these communities.

2017 - Terror attacks

In 2017, the UK experienced several terrorist attacks including the Westminster attack, Manchester Arena bombing, London Bridge attack and Finsbury Park attack. These incidents tested counter terrorism strategies, emergency response capabilities and community policing efforts to prevent radicalisation and subsequent hate crimes.

Windrush Scandal

The windrush scandal revealed the wrongful detention, denial of rights and deportation of Carribean migrants, legally residing in the UK. This significantly damaged trust between these communites and the police, exarcerbating feelings of alientation and suspicion. The scandal highlighted the need to show greater cultural sensitivity and awareness.

1989 - Hillsborough

The initial police and media blaming fans sparked widespread anger and mistrust. Subsequent enquiries, including the Taylor Report and the 2012 Hillsborough Independent panel, revealed police mismanagement and attempts to deflect responsibility. These findings eroded public trust and highlighted the need for police accountability.

2003 - Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act

The legislation introduced measures like ASBOs, impacting how police dealt with minor crimes and ASB, reflecting a shift towards more preventative policing.

Community mappingCommunity mapping requires developing local knowledge of an area. This can be particularly valuable and challenging, particularly in neighbourhoods with transient populations or ‘hidden’ groups and communities. These maps will help you to identify:

• Key stakeholders
• Focal points e.g., businesses and places of worship
• Specific strategies

Community liaison officer Community liaison officers provide a consistent point of contact between communities and the police. This enables a two-way communication between the police and the public, enabling the police to develop a better understanding of communities and their needs, risks and threats. This is particularly important when fostering communication in under-represented group such as LGBTQIA+.

LPACT appears to be enabling relationships between policing and black communities to improve by providing a long-term and sustainable platform for regular conversations and contact. Anecdotal evidence suggests rapport between the police and black communities attending the events is improving and that these individuals are becoming more familiar and are more regularly engaging with local officers involved. Through engagement with the events and analysis of areas of discussion during events, the police are gaining an understanding of black communities’ areas of concern and their thoughts, feelings and experiences relating to the Police Race Action Plan.

Identifying vulnerabilities and those most susceptible to harm in the community can allow you to develop proactive engagement strategies to mitigate challenges within the community. For this we can consider the THRIVE model:

• Identify an individual’s vulnerability or vulnerabilities.
• Understand how these vulnerabilities interact with the situation to create harm or risk of harm.
• Assess the level of harm or risk of harm.
• Take appropriate and proportionate action if required, involving partners where they have the relevant skills and resources.

2022

The rules around this legislation changed to: - The threshold that must be met before a section 60 authorisation can be given is that to anticipate that the threat of violence ‘may’ rather than ‘will’ take place. - The minimum rank of officer able to give an initial section 60 authorisation is restored to that of an inspector. - The maximum period in which an initial section 60 authorisation can remain in place is up to 24 hours. - The rank of officer required to extend a Section 60 authorisation is reduced from a senior officer to superintendent, who is authorised to extend the period for another 24 hours. - Section 60 authorisations no longer needed to be publicly communicated to communities in advance.

Stephen Lawrence

On 22 April 1993, Stephen was killed in a racist attack by a gang of white men.The Macpherson report (1998) looking at the death of Stephen Lawrence, suggested the case had been dealt with in an institutionally racist way by the police, because the investigation had not been handled with the same care that a case involving a white person would have been. The investigation ultimately led to the overturning of the double jeopardy law.

Trigger Warning: Video contains some distressing scenes

Leicestershire Police and Communities Together (LPACT) involves community events held with local black communities, where the focus is on discussing the four workstreams within the Police Race Action Plan.There has been a specific focus on not only the involvement of the police, but specific external organisations, as well as members of the community, to ensure the unique experiences and concerns of different black communities is recognised. A member of the local black community then facilitates the discussion around key questions. Attendees are encouraged to speak openly and share their thoughts, feelings and lived experiences. The discussion provides an avenue for black members of the community to air their views about policing and how it affects them. It also gives an opportunity for them to provide solutions to those problems and for the police to share on action already being taken. The discussions are currently carried out as a collective, however the possibility of having breakouts for smaller discussions and subsequently coming together is being explored.

1984 - Miner's Strike

The strike in 1984 had a significant impact on public opinion of the police. The strike increased polarisation in the public's view of the police as political tools to undermine the strike. There was widespread criticism of the police for their tactics during the strike, including the use of excessive force, mass arrests and the establishment of roadblocks to prevent miners' movement, resulting in violent police clashes.

School Visits

School partnerships are an invaluable tool in creating intelligence sharing opportunities. Safeguarding officers can identify at risk learners and potential safeguarding concerns that could further impact young people and the wider community. The overarching message for the pupils is that of safety, resilience and opportunity. Sessions can include information about what the police do to keep people safe, available support and ways the community can be involved.

Beat Meetings

Beat meetings or PACT (Police and Communities Together) meetings bring together a collective of the community, offering the opportunity for key stakeholders in the community to voice concerns on crime, safety, local infrastructure updates, new housing developments and how that will affect them. This places an onus on accountability and transparency, creating a culture of collaboration. The meeting should focus on:

• Capturing neighbourhood priorities and what is done about them
• Capturing issues of service delivery raised at beat meetings and what is done about them
• Tracking progress against agreed short/medium/long term outcomes.

While it is predominantly response and neighbourhood officers that will be visible in the community, it highlights the necessity for a detective to work collaboratively with different functions within policing to create intelligence sharing opportunities and garner a broader picture of issues within the community.

To meaningfully engage with local black communities by:

• Investing time into building and maintaining relationships in the long-term, and subsequently increasing trust, confidence, and satisfaction providing an opportunity for black communities to be heard and listen to their thoughts, feelings and experiences relating to the Police Race Action Plan’s workstreams,
• Demonstrating that the police care offering black communities insight, including knowledge sharing and observation opportunities, to de-mystify the police enabling areas of concern to be identified.
• Appropriate action to be taken, and involvement of black communities in force decision-making taking a proactive rather than reactive approach to community engagement

Notting Hill race riots

In late August and early September 1958, the London area of Notting Hill was the scene of racially motivated riots, in which white, working-class, ‘Teddy Boys,’ and others, displayed hostility and violence to the Black community in the area. The British African-Caribbean community felt that their accusations of racial attacks had not been taken properly by the Metropolitan Police. Despite testimony from individual police officers to the contrary, top police officials at the time informed Home Secretary Rab Butler that there was little to no racial motivation behind the disturbance, according to data made public in 2002.

2001 - 9/11

9/11 led to increased security measures and increased focus on counter terrorism, including the passing of new laws to prevent terrorist activities. The events of 9/11 also caused widespread islamophobia, deeply impacting community relations and hate towards the Muslim community in the UK.

1999 - The Macpherson Report

After the investigation of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, the report concluded that the Metropolitan Police Service was institutionally racist, and identified 70 recommendations for reforming professionalism, culture and leadership within the service. The report's findings led to widespread public and political debate and has had a lasting impact on policing and race relations in Britain.

The role of partnership working in the community is critical for effective problem-solving, sharing and identifying problems and allocating non-police resources, reducing demand on frontline officers. The importance of collaboration can allow:

Holistic understanding of problems

Shared responsibility

Efficient use of resources

Enhanced public trust

Problem solving

Hover over each box for more info

2014

In 2014, the then home secretary Theresa May introduced stricter guidance on the use of section 60 under the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme (BUSS). May’s recommendations to the House of Commons included: - Raising the level of authorisation of a section 60 to that of a senior officer – that is, an assistant chief constable, commander of the Metropolitan Police, or above; - That in anticipation of serious violence, the authorising officer must reasonably believe that an incident involving serious violence ‘will’, rather than ‘may’, take place; - Limiting the maximum duration of initial authorisation to 15 hours; and - Participating forces should communicate with the public in areas where a section 60 authorisation is to be put in place in advance (where practicable) and afterwards.

Tottenham and wider London riots

On 4th August 2011, police officers shot and killed Mark Duggan, in Tottenham, north London. His death sparked a wave of civil unrest that started in the capital and spread to other cities.What began as a peaceful protest requesting information from the police about the death, soon descended into violent riots and looting.

Intended outcomes include:

• Improved relationships with local black communities – more and long-term conversations and contact, better rapport between black communities and the police, and increased familiarity and engagement with local officers.
• Increased understanding of policing about the areas of concern to local black communities and their thoughts, feelings and experiences relating to the Police Race Action Plan.
• Identification of black communities’ areas of concern, action taken to address these, and black communities having influence over force decision-making.
• Increased opportunity for black communities to engage with lay observation opportunities and gain an understanding about policing.
• Increased trust, confidence and satisfaction of black communities towards policing.

As well as time, conflicting priorities and cost, there are many reasons why some communities are unwilling or unable to engage with the police. In the past, the police have found it difficult to access sections of the community. This may mean you need to play an active role in overcoming these barriers where they exist, particularly with groups that have negative connotations associated with the police or lack a collective community structure. Once a partnership within the community has been established, it is important to communicate consistently and clearly expectations, long-term goals and actions that you will carry out. In particular outlining any joint responsibilities, shared costs, information sharing expectations and priorities that may form a barrier within the partnership.

1981 - Brixton Riots

The Brixton riots had a profound impact on public opinion of the police, particularly regarding issues of racism, policing tactics and the treatment of ethnic minority communities. The events highlighted concerns about social cohesion and the marginalisation of communities, prompting discussion about social and legal policy and the need for investment in affected areas.

New Cross House Fire

The New Cross Fire killed 13 young Black people during a birthday party in a house in New Cross, southeast London on Sunday January 18, 1981. The party was a joint birthday celebration for Yvonne Ruddock and Angela Jackson and was held at 439 New Cross Road, going on throughout the night. There was a fairly high degree of racial tension in New Cross, as it was well known that the far right group the National Front were active in the area. It has been claimed that there had been early complaints about noise from the party leading the police to deduce that the house had been bombed either as a revenge attack or to stop the noise. When arrests were not forthcoming, the Black community was shocked by the indifference of the white population, and accused the London Metropolitan Police of covering up the cause, which they suspected was an arson attack motivated by racism.

2017 - Grenfell Tower

The Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, resulted in 72 deaths and highlighted significant socio-economic and safety disparities. The incident severely impacted community-police relations, underscoring issues of trust and accountability. The aftermath prompted protests, emphasising demands for justice and more effective disaster management.

Toxteth riots

Toxteth: The Merseyside police force had, at the time, a poor reputation within the black community for stopping and searching young black men in the area. Over the weekend that followed, disturbance erupted into full-scale rioting, with pitched battles between police and youths.

Broadwater Farm riots

The events of the day were fuelled by two deaths. The first, Cynthia Jarrett, a woman who died due to heart failure during a police search at her home. It was one of the main triggers of the riot, where tensions between local black youth and the largely white Metropolitan Police were already high, due to a combination of local issues and the aftermath of 1985 Brixton riot which had occurred the previous week.The riots led to the death of PC Keith Blakelock, subsequently, six people (three juveniles and three adults) were charged with the murder of PC Blakelock. The juveniles had their cases dismissed after it was ruled that their interrogation was inadmissible. They were held in conditions which included being questioned naked except for a blanket, and being questioned without a guardian.

Oval Four

Mangrove Nine

Three men were arrested in March 1972 by a group of undercover police officers at Oval Underground station and accused of “nicking handbags” on the tube. They were beaten in the police cells and then charged with attempting to steal, theft, and assault of the police.After a five-week Old Bailey trial, at which none of the supposed theft “victims” appeared and the police relied on highly disputed “confessions”, all four were convicted and jailed for two years. The arrests occurred when “mugging” was a high-profile issue and routinely blamed on young black men. The defendants became known as the Oval Four.

Details the aftermath of a Notting Hill protest against Police Harassment which culminated in the arrest of nine British black activists, tried for inciting a riot at a 1970 protest against the police targeting of The Mangrove, a Caribbean restaurant in Notting Hill, West London.The case made legal history when it delivered the first judicial acknowledgement of ‘evidence of racial hatred’ in the Metropolitan police force.

Visibility Visibility can help to understand your community by conducting:

• Foot patrols
• Drop in sessions e.g. coffee mornings
• Night time economy safety initiatives
• Social media
• Hot spot policing

2011 - London riots

The shooting of Mark Duggan caused mass rioting across England. The widespread unrest and looting posed substantial challenges for the police, leading to questions about police-community relations, social media's role in organising unrest and the need for effective riot response strategies.

2008

By 2008, the UK government loosened legislative requirements for forces. - Rank responsibility for authorising the power fell from superintendent to inspector; - An inspector could not only act in anticipation of violent crime occurring in their area, but also after the occurrence of an incident involving serious violence; - An inspector gained the authority to act on the reasonable belief of persons carrying dangerous instruments or offensive weapons in their area ‘without good reason’; - A superintendent could extend the initial period of a section 60 from an additional 6 hours to an additional 24 hours; - Putting authorisation for a section 60 when it was ‘practicable to do so’ replaced the instruction to do so immediately.

2005 - Jean Charles de Menezes

The mistaken shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes by police officers who believed him to be a terror suspect, raised serious concerns about operational decisions and public accountability in counter-terrorism operations.

1984 - PACE

As a response to growing concerns about police powers, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) introduced stricter rules and procedures for the police to follow, which aimed to increase accountability and transparency. This had the potential to improve trust relations between the police and communities. PACE sought to reduce instances of unjustified stops, which had been a source of confrontation between the police and ethnic minority groups.

1994 - The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

The act introduced measures that expanded police powers, particularly in managing public order and dealing with protests, raves and trespass. The act sparked debate about civil liberties and the balance between the police and individual rights. Some communities viewed the act as overly authoritarian and highlighted the need for a balance between public cooperation and fostering community relations.

An obstacle in establishing meaningful and consistent community relations, is the limited time and resources officers have available to devote to fostering these connections, often due to the demands of their primary duties. This situation necessitates engaging with sergeants and inspectors to advocate for the importance of community engagement initiatives. The challenge is further compounded by the potential misalignment of these activities with the team's predefined targets. This may mean developing a compelling business case to elevate community engagement as a recognised priority.

Resources

Resource limitations can significantly affect community cohesion and engagement by restricting the police's ability to maintain consistent, meaningful interaction with all segments of the community. With limited time and personnel, police may need to prioritise immediate, high-risk issues over long-term relationship-building. This can leave certain communities feeling neglected, especially those that already have a mistrust of the police. The inability to engage with these communities can worsen feelings of isolation and disconnection, hindering efforts to build trust and understanding. Additionally, limited resources can prevent police forces from collaborating effectively with community partners, such as local organisations or schools, which can further hinder community cohesion. Without enough resources, agencies may struggle to provide consistent support or address ongoing community concerns, leading to frustration and the perception that the police are not responsive to local needs. To mitigate these challenges, it's crucial for officers to present a coherent problem-solving plan to their line managers. This plan should outline the specific needs of different communities and justify the allocation of resources for engagement. By demonstrating how engagement efforts align with overall policing priorities, police can ensure that resources are directed to the communities that need them most, improving both community trust and cohesion.

Communication

Panel meetings foster direct communication between the police and the community, creating a space where community members can openly raise issues such as crime, anti-social behaviour, or local concerns. This helps to bridge the gap between the police and the public by allowing both parties to speak and listen to one another.

Competing priorities

Competing priorities can significantly impact community engagement by diverting attention and resources away from building relationships with the public. Police forces often face immediate operational demands, such as responding to incidents, preventing crime, and ensuring public safety. These urgent responsibilities can overshadow long-term community engagement initiatives. When the police focus heavily on crisis management or reactive tasks, it can give the impression that they are not fully engaged with the everyday concerns of residents, potentially damaging trust and collaboration. Moreover, competing priorities can influence how resources, both human and financial, are allocated.Police forces may prioritize areas with higher crime rates or immediate safety concerns, which can result in less attention to community engagement in other neighbourhoods. This lack of attention can make some communities feel neglected, particularly those not experiencing major issues but still requiring proactive support. Balancing competing priorities requires careful planning, coordination, and clear communication within the force. A strategic approach that considers both immediate needs and long-term engagement goals, such as fostering trust and addressing underlying social issues, is essential. By managing these competing demands effectively, police can maintain meaningful community relationships while also ensuring safety and public confidence in policing. A clear engagement plan can help justify the allocation of resources to the areas that need it most.

Improving Public Safety

By engaging with the community, you can gather valuable information, which helps you to better understand local issues and priorities. Engagement can lead to more effective crime prevention strategies and responses, ensuring that policing efforts are aligned with the needs of the community.

Social Exchange Theory

The social exchange theory suggests that relationships are built on a system of reciprocity, where individuals weigh the costs and benefits of their interactions. In the context of communication, it suggests that people are more likely to engage in relationships where they perceive benefits, such as safety, support, or mutual cooperation. Officers can use the social exchange theory to build trust with the community by offering support and showing that they are genuinely invested in the well-being of residents. By consistently providing benefits—such as ensuring safety, offering assistance, and addressing concerns—officers can foster a sense of reciprocity that encourages community members to be more cooperative and engage in partnership-building.

Transactional Model of communication

The transactional model of communication views communication as a dynamic, two-way process where both the sender and receiver are active participants. Unlike traditional models, where the sender communicates and the receiver passively absorbs the message, this model allows for simultaneous sending and receiving of messages. Both parties are involved in interpreting and responding to one another’s messages, and the communication environment can influence how messages are sent and received. In policing, officers can use this model to create a more engaged and interactive relationship with the community. This approach promotes active listening, ensuring that officers not only provide information but also receive feedback from the community. It encourages ongoing dialogue, which can help officers understand community concerns and respond more effectively.

Feedback (in the Transactional Model of communication)

This model expands on the transactional model by highlighting the importance of feedback in communication. Feedback is not just reactive but also informs ongoing communication, allowing for adjustments to be made and improvements in future interactions. It emphasises that communication is a continuous, cyclical process. In policing, feedback is crucial for improving services and building community partnerships. Officers can use this model to gather feedback from the community after police interventions or crime prevention initiatives. This can help assess the effectiveness of strategies and improve future interactions.

Transparency

By engaging with the community in a transparent and inclusive way, these meetings help build trust. You can provide updates on your actions, share crime prevention strategies, and address any concerns the community may have about policing practices. This openness reassures the public that the police are accountable and willing to work alongside them to address issues.

Community resistance

A key challenge for police in fostering community cohesion in the UK is addressing the lack of trust that exists among certain groups. This mistrust often stems from historical tensions, perceptions of bias, or negative past experiences with law enforcement. Building trust requires consistent, transparent, and culturally sensitive engagement. Additionally, the diverse and complex nature of UK communities presents another significant challenge. With a wide range of cultural norms, values, languages, and expectations, police must tailor their approaches to meet the unique needs of different groups.

Failing to account for this diversity can result in misunderstandings, disengagement, and further erosion of trust. Effective community engagement demands that police officers are trained to understand and respect these differences, ensuring that all groups feel heard, respected, and fairly treated.

Encouraging Community Collaboration

Engaging with the community creates opportunities for collaborative problem-solving. By involving community members in discussions and decisions, you can better address local issues, reduce crime, and improve quality of life. It promotes a shared responsibility for public safety, where both police and community members contribute to creating safer neighbourhoods.

Engaging with our communities and partners through Innovation Hubs (IHs)

CCTV business viewing events

Using community impact statements for knife crime

Dialogue

Regular interaction through meetings helps to humanise police officers, making them more approachable and accessible. This strengthens relationships, as people are more likely to feel comfortable speaking with officers who are familiar with the area and have engaged with them on a personal level. These meetings provide an opportunity for community members to collaborate with the police in problem-solving. They can help identify effective solutions to problems and even work together on initiatives that improve the overall well-being of the neighbourhood, such as neighbourhood watch programmes or youth outreach projects.

Communication barriers hinder police efforts to build community engagement and cohesion by limiting connection with diverse groups and understanding their concerns. Language differences can prevent individuals from understanding police initiatives or voicing concerns, especially in multicultural areas lacking translation services or bilingual officers. Cultural differences and historical experiences of discrimination can foster mistrust, making some communities perceive police as unapproachable. Reliance on digital communication may exclude individuals without internet access or digital literacy, such as older adults, economically disadvantaged groups, or rural populations. Negative perceptions of authority, shaped by past experiences or societal narratives, further discourage engagement, while some fear being misunderstood or dismissed. To overcome these challenges, police should adopt inclusive strategies like multilingual resources, diverse communication platforms, and partnerships with trusted community leaders. These efforts help build trust, ensure inclusivity, and foster stronger community cohesion, enabling more effective and equitable engagement.

Cultural Awareness

Cultural awareness involves recognising and understanding the differences in values, beliefs, and practices across cultures. Cultural sensitivity means being respectful of these differences and adjusting communication styles accordingly. This model promotes inclusivity and ensures that officers engage with diverse communities in ways that are respectful and appropriate to their cultural norms. Police officers can use cultural awareness and sensitivity to adapt their communication to the needs of diverse populations, ensuring they do not inadvertently offend or alienate individuals from different cultural or ethnic backgrounds. This approach helps officers to engage with people more effectively, especially in multicultural communities.

Building Trust

One of the primary aims of engagement is to build and maintain trust and confidence between the police and the community. Engaging effectively with communities, listening to their concerns, and demonstrating transparency in decision-making helps to foster positive relationships. This trust is essential for promoting cooperation in crime prevention and problem-solving.

Active Listening

Active listening involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what the other person is saying. It requires the listener to show empathy, acknowledging the emotions or concerns of the speaker. In policing, active listening and empathy are essential for resolving conflicts, de-escalating situations, and building rapport with community members. Officers can use active listening to respond to community concerns, making people feel valued and heard. By showing empathy, officers can de-escalate tense situations, reduce hostility, and build positive relationships within the community.

Enhancing Policing Strategies

Through effective engagement, officers are better able to understand community needs, concerns, and priorities. This input can inform the development of policing strategies that are more relevant, appropriate, and tailored to specific local contexts.

Community Oriented Policing

Community-oriented policing emphasises building strong, positive relationships between the police and the community. It focuses on proactive problem-solving and joint efforts between officers and the community to address crime and social disorder. This model encourages officers to engage with the community on a regular basis, not just during incidents, to build rapport and understand community needs. Officers involved in community orientated policing regularly meet with community members to identify issues and work collaboratively to find solutions. This proactive approach shifts the focus from reactionary policing to building long-term partnerships that foster mutual respect and a shared commitment to improving safety.

Promoting Transparency and Accountability

Effective engagement ensures that the police are accountable to the communities they serve. Open communication helps ensure that policing actions are transparent, and the public is kept informed about the rationale behind decisions, policies, and strategies. This transparency can reduce suspicion and promote positive perceptions of policing.

Accountability

These meetings allow for valuable feedback from the community about police strategies and operations. This feedback loop ensures that policing methods remain adaptable and responsive to the evolving needs of the community. It also holds police accountable by giving residents a say in how policing is carried out in their area.

Priorities

One of the key aspects of these meetings is identifying and prioritising issues that matter most to the community. This allows the allocation of resources effectively, focusing on areas where there is the most concern, such as youth crime, drug use, or local safety issues. It also enables you to align your efforts with the community's needs, making policing more relevant and impactful. However, it's important to recognise that the issues the community perceives as a priority may not always align with the actual crime data in the area. Therefore, it's crucial to strike a balance between addressing the community's concerns and ensuring that the priorities set are in line with the broader needs of the force area. We will look more at this in Assessing impact.