Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster has welcomed a new Neighbourhood Policing Charter produced as part of the force's strategy to deliver strong local policing across the City and the County, in line with the Commissioner's Police and Crime Plan.
Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster said: "One of my key priorities is to see strong local policing in every area of Derbyshire. This includes visible and identifiable Neighbourhood Policing Teams tackling the issues that matter most to the public including drug crime, burglaries, speeding and anti-social behaviour.
"The public consistently tell me that they want their voices to be heard, they want to know who their local officers are and how to contact them. They want to feel better supported, with more confidence that the police will be there when they need them. I'm pleased to see that these matters are being addressed so affirmatively.
"Since I was elected, I have met many police officers, staff and PCSOs and I know that there is a strong commitment to serve the public in the best possible way. But the police cannot work in isolation and to be truly effective neighbourhood policing teams need to be fully engaged with local community groups, parish and district councillors and other local stakeholders.
"We all have a role to play in keeping our community safe; and I look forward to seeing a real partnership approach, sharing the responsibility, accountability and ownership from all parties to deliver sustainable community relations.
"I welcome Derbyshire Constabulary's commitment to this Charter, which will drive up the standards, frequency, and effectiveness of communications with residents in the future."
Chief Constable Rachel Swann said: "Dedicated Safer Neighbourhood teams are critical to policing the communities of Derbyshire. Local policing is what the public want to see. When we ask people what they want from the force, the response is often more visibility from their local teams and tackling issues which affect residents quality of life.
"Work has been taking place across the force to ensure that local communities are consulted with as to what the issues are in their area. Communication has been improved to make sure that residents are kept up-to-date on what is being done to tackle the issues that are important to them.
"Our officers do not have all of the experience, advice, knowledge and even powers to deal with every issue raised within communities. This is why they continue to work with our partner agencies to deliver a service that tackles local issues.
"This charter confirms our commitment to delivering local policing. We will continue to develop partnership working, train our staff and ensure that you are consulted with as to what issues are affecting your area, and deliver a multi-agency approach to tackle them."
The Charter is part of a robust strategy introduced to underpin the work and tactical decisions the force will undertake in future in order to be at the forefront of Neighbourhood Policing nationally.
It sets out a series of pledges on behalf of Derbyshire Constabulary, including vows to increase officers' visibility in Derbyshire's communities, listen to the concerns of residents and act quickly to address these issues and ensure each neighbourhood has an identifiable and accessible police officer.
There are also assurances that help will be provided to those wanting to establish volunteer schemes such as Farm Watch and Community Speedwatch and to improve the response to 101 and 999 calls for assistance.
The Neighbourhood Policing strategy will act as a guide to serving officers, providing evidence for how they will meet the standards of the Charter and deliver a top-quality service to Derbyshire's neighbourhoods.
The Neighbourhood Policing strategy has been guided by the findings of national guidance published by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service (HMICFRS) in 2015, work conducted by the College of Policing (CofP) and Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster's Police and Crime Plan.
It consists of seven key areas:
- Engaging communities
- Targeting activity
- Solving problems
- Promoting the right culture
- Building analytical capability
- Developing officers, staff and volunteers
- Developing sharing and learning