Article ‘Nice to do ’ and Essential: Improving Neighbourhood Policing in an English Police

Abstract In this paper, we outline findings from an innovative action research project in an English police force that aimed to enhance community engagement in four neighbourhood policing teams. We describe the principles that lie at the heart of neighbourhood policing and how, for a variety of reasons, these were often seen to be peripheral rather than essential to the teams ’ activities. We describe how a lack of understanding about the role of neighbourhood policing, limited knowledge about communities and their differing needs, narrow methods of engagement and consultation, as well as the perception that community engagement was ‘nice to do but not essential ’ all reduced the potential benefits of neighbourhood policing. We then discuss the ways we sought to tackle these issues using action research. What do we want from our local police? Extensive research exists on what the public want from their local police including visibility, responsiveness, reassurance, and an approachable style (see Lloyd and Foster, 2009 for a review of the literature). Local policing has been an integral element of British police reform agendas in recent years with the national introduction of neighbourhood policing teams and efforts to give the public a greater voice in deciding what their local police do (see fo