I have spent the last few days working with the fine people at the West Mercia Constabulary Media Services Team. We are working together to produce a DVD to introduce a training programme on Neighbourhood Policing to constables, sergeants and inspectors throughout England and Wales. Neighbourhood Policing is the governments chosen method of delivering policing in the UK and all English and Welsh forces must have it fully in place by 2008.

The police service is not intrinsically customer service oriented. It has a strong and unique culture supported by a wide and bewildering range of systems and processes, some of which operate independently of each other. As with all organisations with any longevity, the culture is strong and enduring. Service products surround the culture and come and go according to need, fashion and government pressure. The danger for Neighbourhood Policing is that it becomes ‘productised’ by the service. Another thing to be done. Yet another service offering, in a wide range of other service offerings.

If it is to succeed, if the service is to become truly citizen focused ( Neighbourhood Policing is the tactical articulation of the principles of Citizen Focus), it must make the leap from being a new product to becoming the way that we do business. The existing organisational systems, processes and cultural beliefs must change to support its delivery. In short, it must be seen as and become, a cultural change programme, not an additional product.

Related posts:

1. Neighbourhood policing: the impact of piloting and early national implementation
2. Policing Green Paper – From the Neighbourhood to the National
3. Neighbourhood Policing Evaluation – Year 2
4. What’s the biggest challenge?