Neighbourhood Panels

[Coldicote]

Our local police are talking about setting up Neighbourhood Panels of volunteers to help tackle disorder. There are many references to Panels on the internet and it appears that some have funding available for various projects, but does anyone know what is the legal basis for creating them? Presumably they are enabled under an Act of Parliament otherwise they have no real standing?

[New Judge]

No Act of Parliament has been used to create them and they have no powers. The funding has come from the police budget and their aim is to canvass the views of local people particularly on the issue of prioritising police resources.

[Coldicote]

Thank you New Judge. I had wondered whether Neighbourhood Panels might be an off-shoot of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which established CDRPs (Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships) between police, local authorities, and numerous other authorities. I believe, but am not sure, that local (District) Councils are the 'umbrella' for these partnerships.

We also hear of Local Action Teams, Neighbourhood Watch, 'Clean and Green Teams' (Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005) and no doubt there are several other 'teams' of various kinds and now we have Neighbourhood Panels. Personally I find it difficult to take these things seriously without some indication of their originating authority, without which it can be difficult to tell the real thing from a gimmick.