The British Government has called on communities to step forward to lead the fight against crime and anti-social behavior.

Ministers are looking for ten trailblazing areas to pioneer Neighbourhood Agreements on community safety and justice between police, councils and residents.

The Pathfinders will require police, councils and other agencies to agree service standards with local residents – and enable the residents to hold them to account.

Communities which win the right to sign the first Neighbourhood Agreements will be able to help target the crime and anti-social behavior that matter most in their local areas.

The agreements will allow residents to have a say in how those issues are tackled, build better relationships with local service providers, understand better what services they are entitled to and how they can be improved.

Joint applications from local councils and police forces will be considered by a cross-departmental selection panel, which will pick the ten pathfinder areas. They will then be independently evaluated before the scheme is introduced in other areas across England and Wales in Spring 2011.

Policing and Crime Minister David Hanson MP said:

“We want the public, wherever they live, to be confident their local police and council are tackling the crime and antisocial behaviour issues that matter in their area. That is why the only target we now set for police is to improve public confidence.

“Neighbourhood Agreements will be a key part of how the police and other local agencies can work with communities to meet this aim.

“This pathfinder scheme is a great opportunity for people to make their neighborhoods better places to live and to play a key role in shaping policing in England and Wales.”

Source: Home Office

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