The full implementation of Neighbourhood Policing is due to be completed by April 2008 when all 43 police forces in England and Wales will have local neighbourhood policing teams covering their entire force area. Neighbourhood policing is designed to be tailored to the priorities and needs of local communities whether they are urban or rural.
The NPIA National Neighbourhood Policing Programme Team is in the final process of designing a guide to assist practitioners at all levels in the service in delivering and sustaining neighbourhood policing within rural communities. This is identifying and addressing neighbourhood priorities, improving engagement and delivering safer neighbourhoods where people have confidence in the police and their partners to deal with the issues that affect them directly.
“Building Communities, Beating Crime” provided a vision of a police service that is both accessible and responsive to the needs of the citizen. “Neighbourhood Policing—Your Police, Your Community, Our Commitment” sets out the plans to deliver a neighbourhood policing team in every area by 2008. This guide will assist in making the vision and plans a reality.