Bridging the Gap: Understanding Reassurance Policing

• NCJ Number: 208811
• Journal: Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 44 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2005 Pages: 41-56
• Author(s): Andrew Millie; Victoria Herrington
• Date Published: February 2005
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This article examines the implementation of the trial phase (April 2002) of the British Home Office's National Reassurance Policing (NRP) Program, which is designed to change the public's persistent fear of crime and lack of confidence in the police even in the face of declining crime rates.

Abstract

Two police forces were involved in the trial phase of the NRP Program, which was designed to counter the crime and antisocial behavior believed to trigger most anxiety among residents, thereby reducing fear of crime and increasing public confidence in the police. The authors, who monitored project development, report on the trial's implementation. The authors reviewed relevant policy and academic literature and conducted semi-structured interviews (n=41) with police and local-authority personnel involved in the trial; these were conducted at 6 sites located in the 2 force areas. The information presented is drawn primarily from interviews with inspectors, sergeants, and constables (n=22), since these were the officers responsible for implementing the program. In order to determine what conditions stimulated anxiety about crime and lack of confidence in police, civilian advisory committees were formed, jointly involving the police, city agencies, and representatives of the public. Despite some ambiguity over roles and responsibilities, discussions with officers identified four key aspects they believe to be important in implementing reassurance policing: ensuring that officers are visible, familiar, and accessible to the public; working in partnership to address issues; consulting with local communities about what concerns them; and advertising crime-fighting successes. The authors advise that the test of reassurance policing will be whether its strategy becomes an integral part of policing once Home Office funding for the program terminates. 6 notes and 46 references