NEWS STORY : Home Secretary Launches Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to Enhance Community Safety
STORY
On 10 April 2025, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper unveiled the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, a comprehensive initiative aimed at revitalising community policing across England and Wales. In a letter addressed to all Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, Cooper emphasised the government’s commitment to reversing the decline in neighbourhood policing and restoring public trust in law enforcement.
Key Components of the Guarantee:
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Deployment of 3,000 Additional Officers: Within the next 12 months, 3,000 new neighbourhood police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will be integrated into communities, marking the initial phase of a broader plan to recruit 13,000 officers by 2029.
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Enhanced Community Engagement: Each neighbourhood will have a named and contactable officer, ensuring residents have a direct line to their local policing team.
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Standardised Performance Framework: A new performance framework will be introduced to ensure consistency in service delivery across all regions, focusing on visibility, responsiveness, and community satisfaction.
Cooper highlighted the collaborative efforts between the Home Office, National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), and the College of Policing in shaping this initiative. She announced the appointment of Deputy Chief Constable Catherine Akehurst to lead a new NPCC delivery team, tasked with driving the program’s design and implementation.
This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s broader strategy to bolster community safety, which includes plans for increased foot patrols during peak times and the introduction of dedicated antisocial behaviour leads in each police force. While the government has pledged a £1 billion funding boost to support these measures, some police chiefs have expressed concerns about potential funding shortfalls impacting officer numbers and service delivery.
