Neighbourhood officer

Neighbourhood officer in Rutland

Neighbourhood officers are local policing officers who are assigned a particular area (known as a neighbourhood) to carry out their patrols.

Working in this role gives officers new and exciting challenges and gives them an opportunity to use the whole range of policing and interpersonal skills, including investigation, negotiation and communication with partners and communities and the prioritisation of work. 

These officers are  are key to the delivery of neighbourhood policing in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. 

They are responsible for a designated neighbourhood, and for tackling local priorities in that neighbourhood with the assistance of local police officers, police community support officers (PCSOs), special constables, volunteers and partner agencies, under the supervision of a neighbourhood sergeant.

There is never a typical day for a beat officer and depending on what else is happening in the area, each day is varied. Neighbourhood officers regularly carry out patrols in their area, they deal with offenders, attend to incidents in their area and visit youth clubs, shops, schools and other community groups to discuss local issues and talk to young people about road safety and crime prevention.

They also attend meetings for local organisations such as residents associations and Neighbourhood Watch. All this helps to make officers more accessible to members of the public and reassure them that the police are working hard in their area.

Neighbourhood officers are an important point of contact for local residents and so need to be approachable, caring and compassionate towards the needs of others, and able to communicate to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Other important skills include being good at making quick decisions, being tactful and diplomatic and being patient to deal with all kinds of confrontational and stressful situations.

In order to build good working relationships with people living and working in the area, it is important for neighbourhood officers to attend community and parish meetings and hold regular beat surgeries to make themselves known to local residents.