As part of the government’s commitment to restoring neighbourhood policing, it has announced that specialist training is being rolled out across the country.
This comes as crimes such as shoplifting, snatch theft, and antisocial behaviour are increasing in occurrence. With this in mind, the government pledged to put thousands more neighbourhood police officers, community support officers, and special constables out on the streets and patrolling town centres.
As part of the first part of this plan, a new training programme – developed by the College of Policing – will be rolled out nationwide to ensure that standards and consistency levels are improved across police forces. Currently being trialled, the Neighbourhood Policing Pathway will support officers to tackle community issues every day whilst helping them to build relationships with communities and solve issues that residents face.
Dame Diana Johnson, Crime and Policing Minister, said:
“Too many town centres and high streets across the country have been gripped by an epidemic of anti-social behaviour, theft and shoplifting which is corroding our communities and cannot be allowed to continue.
“There are thousands of incredible police officers and support staff doing an admirable job. But we have to face the reality that there are still too many victims of anti-social behaviour who feel that when they call the police, no one listens and no one comes.
“Our neighbourhoods and police forces have suffered enough after a decade of decline, and this government will help restore neighbourhood policing, with skilled, resilient and dedicated local cops.
“Every community deserves local officers who understand what is needed to keep them safe, and with this new training and our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, we will deliver the change our towns and villages are desperate for.”
The programme was first launched in June and has been piloted across 11 police forces including Northumbria, North Wales, Derbyshire, and the Metropolitan Police. Once it has been fully rolled out, forces across the country will be able to enrol any neighbourhood officer or PCSO. This is expected to come after the trials end in March 2025, with it being refined before rollout.
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