Neighbourhood Policing was identified as a key issue in the Local Policing Consultation during 2018. Can the Chief Constable provide the Committee with:
• An outline of the proposed changes to Neighbourhood Policing as a consequence of the Consultation; and
• How additional Neighbourhood posts will be funded and sustained in future years given their importance to Policing with the Community.
We are still working through the wealth of material which was gleaned from the Local Policing Consultation and working with the Policing Board, particularly the Partnership Committee to ensure that we make sustainable and effective changes to our model to reflect community views.
In relation to the proposed changes to Neighbourhood Policing as a consequence of the Consultation;
- We are listening to what the communities across Northern Ireland told us during the extensive public consultation process.
- We are committed to the 11 District model, with Districts remaining coterminous with Council boundaries and each commanded by at least a Superintendent.
- District Commanders will be responsible for the style and tone of policing in their respective Districts, in accordance with HMIC Recommendation 1 on Neighbourhood Policing.
- It is proposed to grow the numbers of officers in Neighbourhood Policing by 356 posts as a starting point. This will be achieved by 190 additional posts funded by EU Exit monies and the redistribution of 166 posts from Local Policing Teams to Neighbourhood Policing Teams
- To focus all front line police officers on the core activities of Neighbourhood policing; Engaging Communities, Solving problems and Targeted activity.
- The growth will be a mix of expanding existing teams with additional sections working on a shift pattern and the creation of 11 new teams initially with the potential for more in the medium term.
In relation to how additional Neighbourhood posts will be funded and sustained in future years given their importance to Policing with the Community.
- 190 of the additional Neighbourhood policing will be drawn from the 308 posts funded through EU Exit, these will be located in the 5 Districts along the border with the Republic of Ireland and in Belfast.
- The £9.8 million EU Exit revenue funding is currently only guaranteed for one year. We will be asking for this funding to becoming recurring, but if it is removed the money for these additional posts will need to be found from inside our existing main grant funding.
- The additional 166 posts are a redistribution of existing posts and it is our intention not to reduce these posts unless there is significant cut to our main grant in future years.