Following publication of the thematic report on Police Visibility ‘Narrowing the Gap’ in December 2002, HMIC recognised the need for complementary studies in Crime Management and Community Policing, to inform approaches to managing the gap between public expectations and service delivery. In this study, therefore, the focus is on the potential of better addressing demand through enhanced engagement with communities.
Number | Recommendation |
|---|---|
1 | HMIC recommends the extended application of Public Perception Surveys to engage communities’ views on policing priorities. |
2 | HMIC recommends that forces review consultative arrangements in line with emerging developments in Community Planning, to maximise the potential for joint consultation and information sharing. |
3 | HMIC recommends that ACPOS, in consultation with the Scottish Executive, ensures that the development of performance indicators is consistent with the local context of Community Planning. |
4 | HMIC recommends that forces review Community Planning arrangements: • To ensure emerging policies are fully integrated with community policing strategies and compatible with a community safety ethos • To service financial arrangements that ensure police representatives in Community Planning Partnerships can access funding streams, in order to contribute appropriate monies to joint problem solving Initiatives • To facilitate information sharing and data exchange, to maximise the potential for Community Planning to deliver joint problem solving. |
5 | HMIC recommends that forces review the role of Local Authority Liaison Officers to ensure that responsibilities are appropriate for the emerging Community Planning arrangements. |
6 | HMIC recommends that ACPOS, in consultation with COSLA, examines the potential for an annual national award to recognise excellence in the fields of community safety and joint problem solving within the wider Community Planning arena. |
7 | HMIC recommends that ACPOS develops a national community policing strategy advocating a more consistent and standardised approach to this role, recognising recent developments in Community Planning, NIM, problem solving, restorative justice and warden schemes. |
8 | HMIC recommends that ACPOS conducts a training needs analysis on the role and responsibilities of community police officers, recognising recent developments in Community Planning, NIM, restorative justice, problem solving and warden schemes, in conjunction with the development of a national community policing strategy. |
9 | HMIC recommends that forces review existing community policing strategies to ensure: • An integrated approach with Community Planning, in order to maximise the potential for partnership working and a joint approach to problem solving • Incorporation of level one NIM and problem solving elements • A clear definition of roles and responsibilities. |
10 | HMIC recommends that forces exploit the opportunities presented by warden schemes to engage with communities and assist in the delivery of a public reassurance agenda. |
11 | HMIC recommends that forces continue to review arrangements in respect of their Special Constabularies, to ensure that this valuable resource is being used to full advantage. (see ‘Narrowing the Gap’). |
12 | HMIC recommends that forces exploit the opportunities presented by ‘Volunteer Centre Network Scotland,’ both to engage citizen volunteers and maximise the potential of a volunteer workforce. |
13 | HMIC recommends that ACPOS examines future developments in call centre provision, to establish the potential for a non-emergency telephone number to be shared with other council service providers. |
14 | HMIC recommends that forces, in partnership with their respective constituent authorities, examine current arrangements in respect of the application and grant of ASBOs, to ensure the most effective use of this sanction in promoting community cohesion. |
15 | HMIC recommends that in furtherance of recommendations in Narrowing the Gap, ACPOS continues to develop a media strategy which draws on lessons from ‘Safer Scotland’ and is alert to further media and marketing opportunities, notably in the area of television. |