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Practical lessons for involving the community in crime and disorder problem-solving
This report draws together lessons about community involvement in crime and disorder problem-solving. It has been put together using evidence from problem-solving initiatives that have been subject to evaluation and practitioner assessments of the effectiveness of community involvement in problem-solving initiatives that have not been formally evaluated. It is intended as a resource for front-line practitioners and their managers.
Title: Practical lessons for involving the community in crime and disorder problem-solving
Authors: Sarah Forrest, Andy Myhill and Nick Tilley
Series: Home Office Development & Practice Report 43
Number of pages: 26
Date published: November 2005
Availability: Download full report 
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This report shows how the community may become involved in crime and disorder problem-solving. The aim of the report is to give practitioners:
a range of types of involvement in problem-solving that might be appropriate in a given community;
advice on devising a strategy to facilitate community involvement; and
specific ideas about how to involve the community in a range of practical problem-solving activities.
Initiatives promoting community involvement
Civil renewal and active citizenship
Community engagement
Neighbourhood policing
The National Reassurance Policing Programme
Problem-oriented partnership
Promoting social cohesion and social efficacy
New Deal for Communities
All the above initiatives share common themes:
the community is critical for identifying and dealing with problems
the community is mostly understood in geographical terms, comprising those living or working within a particular area;
agencies are expected to be more sensitive and responsive to the wishes of community members;
community members are expected to play a larger part in the governance of their local areas; and
communities of involved, trusting and interconnected members are thought to be better at dealing with problems as they emerge, and are less likely to face serious problems than communities where members are uninvolved and mistrustful of one another.
The full report discusses how to put the concept of community involvement into practice.
Community involvement
Consultation is the most popular form of community involvement. Here the agency asks for ideas from, or the approval of, the community (or some section of it). The Crime and Disorder Act (1998) makes consultation a statutory duty of all Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs). Police authorities also have a statutory duty to consult. But this type of formal consultation does not exhaust the possibilities for community involvement. Local people can be involved at various levels. Beyond simple consultation, these may include active co-operation with the agency or being involved in various activities such as problem-solving.
Last update: Tuesday, July 22, 2008