National Centre
Centre For
For Policing
Policing
National
Excellence
Excellence
Community Cohesion
Cohesion
Community
Nick Keane
Community Cohesion Team
Nick.Keane@centrex.pnn.police.uk
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2001 Community Disorder in
Bradford, Oldham, Burnley and
Wrexham
Common themes :
Fragmented communities
Racial lines, differing faiths, younger
and older people
Deprived areas
providing a fully integrated approach to crime investigation and operational policing
What is Community Cohesion?
What is Community Cohesion?
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Many areas have seen tremendous economic and social change in their local populations but these changes have not always engaged or benefited all sections of the community. Consequently, rather than relationships between varying cultural communities improving and
developing, in some cases they have actually deteriorated.
In the summer of 2001 disturbances, apparently racially inspired, occurred in Bradford, Oldham and Burnley. This unrest appeared to have been born out of deep seated frustrations and divisions that are not unique to these particular towns.
Following these events the Government commissioned reports into the causes of the disorder and the symptomatic collapse of social cohesion. It became clear that in these areas there was very little interaction between individuals of different cultural, religious and racial
backgrounds.
The stress placed in the Government reports was for the need for citizenship education, identification and recognition of shared values, rights and responsibilities, whilst tackling racism and religious bigotry as part of the process of building cohesive communities.
A cohesive community is one where:
Approaches
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The Cantle review of Oldham and the Ousley review of Bradford have been able to consider and examine how national policies, based upon shared values and a celebration of diversity might be used to promote better community cohesion. However, evidence of what is actually
working in transforming fragmented communities into cohesive communities is still scarce.
The Government proposes a framework of practical measures that will mainstream the process of community cohesion. Community cohesion cannot be forcibly imposed by external agencies but has to be achieved through community members working together for the benefit of
all.
There is a common vision and a sense of
belonging for all communities
The thematic concepts within this framework are -:
Vision and Values
This theme encourages the idea of citizenship, founded on an understanding of the responsibilities that citizenship entails, such as tackling racism, sexism and ageism and embracing diversity and cultural differences.
Community Safety and Policing
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The elimination of discriminatory practices and the enforcement of appropriate policing methods are fundamental to the delivery of effective policing. Good practice, which includes community policing, building responsive communication links with communities and diversity training
for officers, should be encouraged. There should also be a greater emphasis on tackling racially motivated crime, to relieve barriers and tensions between communities.
The diversity of people’s different
backgrounds and circumstances are
appreciated and positively valued
Asylum Seekers, Refugee and Travelling Communities
The arrival of asylum seekers can quickly alter the ethnic, cultural and religious ‘mix’ within a community. Unless the host community is prepared for new arrivals, it can often feel threatened which could increase the potential for conflict. Local authorities have a crucial role in
working with the community and asylum seekers to encourage cohesion.
Regeneration
Regeneration initiatives should encourage cross-cultural engagement and thematic rather than area-based approaches to funding bids. This should encourage the integration of different communities, instead of pitting them one another in tackling issues across all communities such
as poverty and deprivation.
Young people
Many young people are very capable of assuming and discharging responsibilities, if given the opportunity. They need to be more involved in decision making in a manner that encourages their participation. Young people can become peer group role models and mentors and
contribute significantly to engaging disaffected youth in more creative ways.
Community and Political Leadership
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In some parts of the country a distinct lack of political and community leadership has encouraged the growth of racist and extremist groups. Strong local leadership with an agreed ‘vision’ for the local area is an essential part of community cohesion and should be exercised with the
support of the community to foster understanding and collaboration.
Education
Those from different backgrounds have
similar life opportunities and
Education is a fundamental tool in promoting positive values and a common identity as it shapes the opinions of young people into adulthood. Schools are well placed to tackle social exclusion and encourage cohesion as they provide a forum for children from varying backgrounds to
interact.
Community and Voluntary organisations
Community organisations have close contacts with sections of the community. Sometimes these might reinforce cultural difference but through networking and joint activities they can draw together the different communities to promote common interests. Funding regimes could
work against this where they are seen to stimulate competition.
Faith Communities
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Strong and positive relationships are being
developed between people from different
backgrounds in the workplace, in schools
and within neighbourhoods.
Multi-cultural communities are often multi- faith communities and this should be fully recognised in policies aimed at promoting diversity. Fostering understanding and respect between different faiths is vital in practically implementing community cohesion strategies.
Sports and Cultural Services
Involvement in sports and leisure pursuits can be a useful tool towards encouraging interaction by engaging different sections of the community. Involvement in such pursuits is voluntary and marginalised groups may find engaging in such activities preferable to government
sponsored initiatives.
Employment and Economy
High levels of unemployment and variations in job opportunities can have a detrimental impact in building cohesion. Disparity in the levels of employment between varying groups can also breed resentment between different communities. Local authorities, leaning and skills
councils and the Employment Service should be engaged in developing equal access to employment for all sections of the community.
Press and media
The press plays a crucially important role in shaping the public’s perception. It should therefore be encouraged to report news in a manner that facilitates open debate. Reporting that is negative, inflammatory or that consistently presents certain communities, as problems should
actively be discouraged.
Housing and Planning
Housing is a major determinant in shaping communities and the relationships between different races and cultures. Community cohesion can be promoted through the use of more creative strategies to create mixed housing areas and to provide supportive mechanisms for BME
communities facing harassment and victimisation.
‘Community Cohesion:
Pulling Together or Pulling Apart?’
June 2003
Matthew Baggott, Chief Constable of
Leicestershire Constabulary & Chair
of the Race And Diversity Business
Area for ACPO
Defined ‘Community Cohesion’ as:
‘The absence of significantly
disproportionate victimisation, fear
or tension’.
The Police Role
The key role for the police service in
addressing community cohesion is
to identify and address issues of
disproportionate criminality,
victimisation and tension
providing a fully integrated approach to crime investigation and operational policing
• Disproportionate crime
• 1 per cent of the population suffers
59 per cent of all violent crime
• 2 per cent of the population suffers
41 per cent of all property crime
• Most criminals commit their
offences within 1.8 miles of their
front door
providing a fully integrated approach to crime investigation and operational policing
People living in deprived areas:
• express the highest levels of fear of
crime
• are at risk of burglary which can be four
times higher than other areas
• suffer from higher concentrations
of property crime and offences
against the person
• if from minority ethnic groups are
at a greater risk of victimisation
providing a fully integrated approach to crime investigation and operational policing
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Identify vulnerable locality statistics:
Crime
Deprivation - income and
employment
Education
Demographics
providing a fully integrated approach to crime investigation and operational policing
providing a fully integrated approach to crime investigation and operational policing
Partnership Activity
Resource Audit
Asset Analysis
Identify
Vulnerable
Locality
Strategic
Assessment
Problem Profile
providing a fully integrated approach to crime investigation and operational policing
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Strategic assessment to include:
Concentration factors
Social problems
Criminal life styles in young people
Environmental disorder
Repeat victimisation
Diminishing informal control
Criminal networks
providing a fully integrated approach to crime investigation and operational policing
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Strategic assessment to include:
Community and Partnership review
Community activity
Partnership activity
Voluntary sector activity
providing a fully integrated approach to crime investigation and operational policing
Partnership Alignment
Identify
Vulnerable
Locality
Strategic
Assessment
Strategic
T&CG
Control
Strategy
Tactical
Management
Layering of Resource
providing a fully integrated approach to crime investigation and operational policing
Contact Numbers
National Centre for Policing Excellence
National Crime and Operations Faculty
Centrex
Bramshill
Hook
Hampshire
RG27 0JW
Community Cohesion Team
+44 1256 602865 or 602363
providing a fully integrated approach to crime investigation and operational policing