Derbyshire accelerates action to strengthen neighbourhood policing

A new government programme putting more officers back into neighbourhood policing and boosting their visibility is well underway across Derbyshire.

Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts said Derbyshire Constabulary is already meeting the expectations of the Government's new Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

From actively recruiting extra officers to bolster neighbourhood policing teams through to mapping out crime hotspots ready for extra visibility and intelligence patrols, the Commissioner said the force had worked tirelessly to ensure the new service standards were in place.

She was speaking at the launch of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative at Derby County Football Club - a crime prevention collaboration running throughout the summer months as part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to crack down on street crime, retail theft, vandalism and anti-social behaviour (ASB).

The initiative will see increased patrols in Derby City centre and strengthen engagement between the police and retailers, businesses, residents and other key partners.

The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee is aimed at revitalising neighbourhood policing across England and Wales, by returning an extra 13,000 police officers and Police Community Support Officers into communities by 2029 - including an extra 35 officers in Derbyshire over the next 12 months.

At the heart of the Guarantee is a promise to provide a named contactable officer for every neighbourhood, responsive to local problems, and for residents and businesses to be able to have greater say on the policing priorities for their area.

Police forces have been given until July to make necessary changes to ensure they meet the new standards, with Derbyshire already working towards meeting these.

Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts said: "Our communities value strong and visible policing above all else and will be pleased to know that additional recruitment is already well underway.

"My office, the Chief Constable, and the entire Force are leaving no stone unturned. We are working tirelessly, day in and day out, to ensure the safety of our communities and, most importantly, to ensure that justice is served.

"Working with our communities and partners, we will collaborate further to keep our streets, towns and city centres safe places for all.

"The Guarantee marks the start of an exciting era for local policing, allowing for stronger and more robust action on the issues that erode public trust and confidence and heighten fear if left unchecked.

"Feeling safe is vital to all of us regardless of where we live or work. By the end of March next year, the force will have 35 additional officers working proactively to prevent and investigate crime, secure justice for victims and to solve problems with partners, including residents themselves.

"But it's not just about more boots on the ground. The Guarantee will also give communities more power to influence police action on issues that impact safety and wellbeing and to actively contribute to the solutions. It will also see officers trained to better understand the needs of their communities to increase satisfaction in policing overall."

Key milestones reached in the delivery of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee include:

• Active recruitment of 35 new neighbourhood police officers underway. Following training, officers will be deployed to areas of greatest need later in the year.
• National online training rolled out to neighbourhood police officers. As a pilot force, Derbyshire has already piloted the Neighbourhood Policing Pathway (NPP) modules and has provided feedback to the College of Policing and will continue to shape the remaining modules through ongoing collaboration. 
• Officer assignments are being mapped out to ensure every neighbourhood has a named officer. These officers will be publicly listed and made accessible via the force website with clear contact details and responsibilities.
• The Communications and Engagement team, alongside divisional reps, are working to ensure local priorities, officer details, and community feedback channels are visible and regularly updated on the Single Online Home platform. Officers are being encouraged to keep event listings current to support transparency.
• Beat meetings are being scheduled across divisions, and officers are being trained to facilitate community engagement. The force is also improving how these meetings are advertised online to ensure maximum public participation.
• Officers are being encouraged to use an abstraction app to log when and why they are pulled away from patrol duties. This data will help senior officers to minimise abstractions and ensure officers are present and visible in their communities.
• A senior officer in the Prevention and Partnerships team is taking on a new ASB lead role - a requirement of the Guarantee. They will work with divisional leadership to create a comprehensive action plan targeting ASB in town centres and residential areas.
• The force is already working with stakeholders to design an efficient system that meets the Government's goal for all non-urgent neighbourhood queries to be answered within 72 hours.