What the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee means for you

Every neighbourhood in England is supposed to have named, contactable police officers under the Government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. Here is what it promises and how to find your local team.

What the guarantee says

The guarantee follows a Labour manifesto commitment to put 13,000 more officers, police community support officers and special constables into neighbourhood policing roles over this Parliament, an increase of more than 50 per cent according to the Home Office. The first 3,000 were due to be in place by spring 2026.

Under the guarantee, every area should have:

• a neighbourhood policing team carrying out visible patrols, including in town centres and on high streets
• named officers that residents can contact
• a dedicated anti-social behaviour lead in every force
• a chance for residents and businesses to shape local police priorities

How to find your local team

Enter your postcode on the police.uk website to find your neighbourhood team, see who your officers are, and read about the local priorities they are working on. The same site shows crime maps for your street and details of upcoming community meetings.

Why neighbourhood policing matters

Neighbourhood officers deal with the problems people notice most, such as anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and shoplifting. They also build relationships with residents, schools, faith groups and businesses, which can help to prevent crime and gather intelligence about more serious offences.

Numbers of neighbourhood officers fell in many areas during the 2010s, when police budgets were cut, and critics say that made it harder to tackle local problems.

Birmingham's policing

Birmingham is policed by one of the largest forces in the country, which is divided into local policing areas covering different parts of the city. Each has its own neighbourhood teams.

Who holds the police to account

The force is overseen by an elected Police and Crime Commissioner, who sets the budget and the police and crime plan. The Government plans to abolish commissioners in 2028 and give their powers to mayors or new policing boards.