Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee
What is the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee?
The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee is a government programme designed to restore public confidence and enhance visible policing in communities across England and Wales, as part of the Safer Streets Mission.
Announced by the Prime Minister in April 2025, it aims to increase public confidence in policing and enhance the capacity and capability of the neighbourhood policing workforce to address anti-social behaviour (ASB) and focus on crime prevention.
It sets out what communities should expect from their neighbourhood policing teams. Every neighbourhood will have named, contactable officers, and residents and businesses will be given a voice to shape their local police priorities.
In addition, every force will have a dedicated anti-social behaviour (ASB) lead who will work with their communities to develop action plans that tackle the concerns seen on their streets every day. There is a renewed focus on preventing criminality and ASB – particularly in town centres – with visible, accessible officers who will deter offending and reassure communities they will be kept safe.
To support this, the milestone over this Parliament is to have an additional 13,000 police officers, police community support officers (PCSOs) and special constables into neighbourhood policing roles, with the first 3,000 in place by spring 2026.
Part of the Guarantee is to professionalise neighbourhood policing and recognise it as a specialist policing capability, therefore the College of Policing has worked closely with forces to design a new Neighbourhood Policing Pathway that equips officers with the essential skills and knowledge needed to deliver in this specialist area of policing. The first phases are already being delivered by forces, with the full programme expected to be delivered in full by 2027.
The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee marks a critical reprioritisation of neighbourhood policing. It offers a powerful opportunity to rebuild community trust and improve the way policing can support and protect the communities that it serves.
What is neighbourhood policing?
Neighbourhood policing teams work to improve local conditions and help create stronger, safer communities in our towns and villages.
Together with partners and communities, they agree what needs to be done to tackle and resolve local issues that affect people’s safety and quality of life, and provide feedback on what is being done and what has been achieved.
As well as tackling crime and anti-social behaviour on their patch, you’ll see officers out and about patrolling their area and carrying out activities such holding police surgeries, attending residents’ meetings or giving talks to schools and community groups.
Neighbourhood officers strive to be a visible, accessible and trusted presence within the community, working to reduce harm and improve feelings of safety.
They use a range of problem-solving skills to tackle and prevent crime, and work closely with partners such as the council, housing associations, youth and social services, as well as residents to resolve local issues.
Key pillars of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee
A neighbourhood policing team in every local area, carrying out intelligence-led and visible patrols, including town centres and on high streets.
A named, contactable officer for every neighbourhood, responsive to local problems. Residents and local businesses will be able to have their say on the police’s priorities for their area.
A new neighbourhood policing career pathway to provide new training for officers, and standards for professional excellence will ensure neighbourhood policing is developed as a specialist policing capability.
Neighbourhood policing teams will have tougher powers and, supported by other agencies, tackle persistent ASB. This includes piloting new ‘Respect Orders’ to enable swift enforcement against prolific offenders and a dedicated lead officer in every force to work with communities to develop a local ASB action plan.
Neighbourhood policing teams will crack down on shop theft, street theft, and assaults against retails workers, so local people can take back their streets.
Increase volunteering in neighbourhood policing and growth of the Special Constabulary.