Local Priorities Q&A

Does my area have a neighbourhood policing team and what do they do?

Every area in the county has a neighbourhood policing team - a team of police officers and community support officers (PCSOs) who are dedicated to a local area. Their job is to tackle the crime and anti-social behaviour happening across the areas they cover. To help them do this, they work closely with local councils, community leaders and residents to identify and agree the local policing priorities for the area.

What is a local priority and how are they decided?

Local priorities are the crime and anti-social behaviour issues that your neighbourhood officers will focus on over a specified period. They are based on local crime figures, information from other organisations, such as the council, and feedback from the people who live and work in the area. Local priorities are different to the countywide priorities set by the chief constable, and are based on the specific issues that are causing concern in the local area.

How can I influence the local priorities?

The views of local people are really important and this is where you can help. By answering a few questions, you can help your neighbourhood team set the local policing priorities for your neighbourhood. Have your say.

How often do the local priorities change?

Local priorities are updated every six months, so do share your views every few months - your local officers will welcome regular feedback about what's happening in your area. It will help them plan their future work and understand what crimes are causing most concern.

How can I find what the priorities are in my area and what's been done to tackle them?

Your neighbourhood officers will provide information about the agreed priorities and the work they're doing to tackle them in a number of ways - for example, at community surgeries and meetings, on their social media pages and the police website, and through Northamptonshire Talking messages.

How can I find out more about my local neighbourhood policing team?

To find out who your local officers are, how to contact them and to find more information about the work they are doing, please visit the Your Area pages.

What is Northamptonshire Talking and how do I sign up?

Northamptonshire Talking is a free email messaging service that provides a simple way for you stay informed about crime and policing activity in your area, with regular updates from your local policing team. You can reply to our messages to give feedback, ask a question, respond to a witness appeal or share information about local crime. You can also choose to receive messages in a language other than English.

Register for Northamptonshire Talking here or ask a local officer to sign you up. After you've registered, do remember to respond to the verification email to ensure you start receiving messages.