Community Policing
Policing Priority Areas
The Forensic Science Team is continuing its work with the police service to maximise the detection opportunities afforded by forensic science. This update (although not exhaustive) is intended to inform on some of the key areas of support.
Since the first five PSU PPAs in Southwark, Stoke, Bradford, Bristol and Rhyl were announced by the Home Secretary in March 2002, the scheme was extended to a further 24 areas Mansfield, Salford, Easington, Hastings, Great Yarmouth, Cambridge, Peterborough, Smethwick, Chapletown. Penywaun Luton, Burbank in Hartlepool, Barrow in Furness, Derby, Bournemouth, Bolton, Havant, South Crosby in Scunthorpe, Norwich, Harworth in Nottinghamshire, Sheffield, Ipswich, Slough and Nuneaton.
Established in closely defined areas, PPAs are initiatives aimed at focusing resources from all agencies to tackle the concerns of communities on crime, anti- social behaviour, community cohesion and environmental issues.
The first PPAs
Evaluation of the first tranche of PPAs proved positive, reporting success in reducing crime and providing public reassurance, and additionally producing useful lessons for on-going PPA work and multi-agency work in general. Further evaluations on individual PPAs can be found on the website.
Feedback from forces and their partners has been encouraging, particularly in terms of identifying ways – and obstacles – to ensuring a joined-up approach to crime reduction. Areas are now mainstreaming lessons learnt and in some cases extended their PPAs to other sectors
The PPA programme ends at the end of September 2004. Lessons from the PPAs have informed the implementation of Neighbourhood Policing together with the National Reassurance Policing Programme and Community Cohesion site.
