Neighbourhood policing is about local policing; police, partners and the community working together, to identify and tackle issues of concern in Essex.

Neighbourhood policing is about creating a team dedicated to each local area. The areas are small and typically will include a sergeant, police constable, police community support officer and special constables. The neighbourhood policing team will work with local partners and you to make your neighbourhood a safer place.

Police Pledges to the Public

We will:

• Deal with policing issues in your area that matter most to you
• Involve you in identifying priorities and taking action to tackle them
• Have officers that you know and recognise and a direct number to contact them on

We aim to:

• Involves you in identifying local priorities and taking action to tackle them
• Reduce crime, nuisance and disorder
• Reduce fear of crime and increase feelings of safety
• Increase public satisfaction and confidence in the police
• Detect more crime
• Create safer and more confident communities

Our aim is to listen and talk to you and find out what most affects your daily life and feelings of security. These might be issues such as antisocial behaviour or vandalism. We will work in partnership with local agencies, such as the council, Neighbourhood Watch and the Fire Brigade to find lasting solutions, bringing to justice those responsible for committing crime, nuisance and disorder.

What can you expect?

• A locally known and recognisable officer who you will be able to contact easily
• Every neighbourhood will have a dedicated team, which will be larger in bigger or more challenging areas
• Officers patrolling on foot or on bike, especially in areas where you feel unsafe
• Local issues tackled by police, residents and partner agencies using a problem-solving approach
• A more accessible service with extended opening hours at police stations
• More chances to meet with us to air your views
• Keep you updated on what we area doing and be accountable to you
• Robust action against those committing offences

What we ask of you

• If you see an officer in trouble, help out so far as you are able
• Please tell us about your problems. If you don’t we may not be able to help you
• If you’re not getting the service you expect from us, let your local District Commander know.

What can you do?

You can help us to improve your neighbourhood by volunteering some of your time as a Special Police Constable, as a volunteer or by joining a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. Organisations involved in the community can also help by joining our CSAS Accreditation scheme.

What are we doing?

Across Essex, neighbourhood policing teams are involved in:

• Gathering local intelligence on crime and criminals
• Attending all reported crimes
• Driving down anti-social behaviour and nuisance behaviour
• Working with partner agencies to clean up graffiti
• Seizing alcohol from underage drinkers
• Moving into and working with schools, hospitals, businesses and local community halls to be at the heart of your neighbourhood
• Providing personal safety and crime prevention advice

Taking a lead in making Essex safer....A message from Chief Constable Roger Baker

Essex is one of the safest counties in the country. Crime is decreasing, more crimes are being detected and more offenders are being brought to justice.

But despite these achievements, surveys show people in Essex do not always feel safer.

That is why we are taking a lead on neighbourhood policing. We aim to work with you to help you feel safer in your community.

All areas of Essex will benefit from a neighbourhood policing team, which started rollout from January 2006 and will be live countrywide by the beginning of July 2006. In total 144 neighbourhoods have been identified within Essex's 14 Council Districts.

Each neighbourhood policing team will deliver a quality neighbourhood policing service to meet local needs. It is my intention that they will stay where you need them most, right up your street...

(taken from http://www.essex.police.uk/yourarea/y_npt_01.php.....November 2006)