News

12 September 2007
POLICE TO TACKLE PUBLIC'S FEAR OF CRIME
WITH A NEW COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH

SCOTLAND’s police forces are to take partnership working in communities one step further in reducing crime by building greater public confidence through community involvement in crime fighting.

“Reducing the public’s ‘fear of crime’ and building safer and more vibrant communities can be achieved if we meaningfully engage with the public to understand the underlying reasons that make them feel vulnerable and insecure,” said Chief Constable Colin McKerracher, President of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS).

To that end, ACPOS is launching nationally its ‘Public Reassurance Strategy’ at Port Glasgow Town Hall on Wednesday, 12 September at 10:00 a.m.

The strategy, having been piloted in the Maryhill area of Glasgow by Strathclyde Police, will be rolled out for all eight Scottish Police Forces. In Port Glasgow, the Bardrainnie area will be one of the first communities in Inverclyde to use this community-based policing model.

“Reassurance policing will draw on the National Intelligence Model (NIM) and use its products and procedures to manage demand on the police service by investing resources intelligently,” Mr. McKerracher continued.  “Through tasking and co-ordination, problem-solving forums and the management of offenders, this eight-stage public reassurance policing strategy will help communities to reduce crime and, equally important, reduce the ‘fear of crime’ and provide an environment in the community that will lead to a sustained reduction of crime.”

“The Scottish Government strongly supports this strategy, which seeks to involve communities in identifying and planning solutions to local problems,” said Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing, who will address the event.

“The strategy has been specifically designed to improve public confidence in the ability of the police and key partner agencies to deliver services that increase all our communities’ sense of security and well-being.

ACPOS Public Reassurance

“By promoting this positive role for communities, we will have a genuine partnership approach - not just from the agencies that help to deliver the solutions but through the involvement of those affected by crime and antisocial behaviour, who will benefit from the problem-solving approach.

“Our communities deserve a voice in how problems in their areas are dealt with and this strategy will help achieve that.”

Speaking on behalf of ACPOS, Strathclyde Assistant Chief Constable John Neilson, will outline the eight stages of the ACPOS Public Reassurance Model and will respond to questions from the audience and media.

A DVD entitled, “Our Year”, will provide an overview of the performance of Strathclyde Police in Inverclyde and Renfrewshire over the last year which will be followed by ‘Have Your Say’ – a public consultation session involving a 30-point public consultation questionnaire with local residents and service providers that will conclude the morning’s event.

Councillor Robert Moran, Convener of Inverclyde Council’s Safe, Sustainable Communities Committee said: “We are delighted that the police service in Scotland is launching the Public Reassurance Strategy in Inverclyde.
“Crime and the fear of crime is a blight on our communities but working with the police we can all do something about it.

“This project is about empowering communities to make a difference and sending out the message that crime and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in Inverclyde or anywhere else.”

“The Scottish Police Service is committed to providing a high quality service to those we serve and to increasing confidence in policing within our communities,” Mr. McKerracher concluded.