Neighbourhoods on watch

Steps to improve neighbourhood policing in England and Wales have been announced by the government. It plans to increase the visibility of community sentences so offenders “pay back”; provide local crime data and online maps; set national minimum standards for neighbourhood policing; and dedicate funding for community safety. The measures form part of the government’s response to Louise Casey’s independent report, Engaging Communities in Fighting Crime. The report looked at the role played by the public in keeping communities safe and suggested ways police and local authorities could put the interests of the law-abiding majority first. A green paper is expected shortly.