Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

From policing the beat to disrupting global crime networks: Reforming the structure of policing in the 21st century

The Government is committed to improving the police service and making it fit for the 21st Century through investment and reform. The evolution of global threats such as terrorism and organised crime on the one hand, and local challenges such as anti-social behaviour on the other, require a sustained and comprehensive approach to reform. The Government's vision is a police service close, responsive and accountable to the communities it serves, supported by larger forces with the specialist expertise to protect the public from wider threats such as organised crime and terrorism. This leaflet outlines how policing will operate at the neighbourhood, borough, force, national and international levels.

Title: From policing the beat to disrupting global crime networks: Reforming the structure of policing in the 21st century
Author: Home Office
Number of pages: 4
Date published: March 2006
Availablity: Download full leaflet PDF 261Kb

The key elements of the approach to achieve this are:

• building a more responsive citizen focused police service through the delivery of neighbourhood policing teams to every area in England and Wales by 2008

• modernising the police workforce, with flexible use of staff and the expansion of Police Community Support Officers to 24,000 by 2008

• reshaping the structure of the police service through force amalgamations and the establishment of national policing agencies to ensure the service has the capability to tackle the challenges presented by 21st century policing.

The plans will protect people better and support the transformation of policing at five levels:

1. At neighbourhood level, Neighbourhood policing teams – by 2008 - police officers, Police Community Support Officers, Special Constables and volunteers will work with local agencies and members of the community, providing a dedicated policing service that is highly responsive to the needs of local people
2. At borough or district level Borough Commanders who lead operational commands (Basic Command Units) will have control of police teams and resources in their areas to respond effectively to local priorities with strong links to local government and local democracy. This will help them ensure that policing is driven by the priorities of local people
3. At force level Larger forces will have the capacity to take on serious crime more effectively and will be big enough to ensure that local neighbourhood policing is protected
4. At national level Through the establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the National Policing Improvement Agency, the Government will strengthen the capacity to confront the most dangerous criminals and to drive forward improvements in policing
5. At international level, Government will work with our international partners to tackle terrorism, serious and organised crime and drug-related crime overseas to ensure a safer UK.

Getting a copy

Download From policing the beat to disrupting global crime networks: Reforming the structure of policing in the 21st century PDF 261Kb

Last update: 24 March 2006