What is a neighbourhood?
Each police force is working to define the neighbourhoods in your area, and these may vary from force to force. A neighbourhood is usually a geographic area that is of a size that best serves the needs of the local communities. Neighbourhoods are being defined with partners, and communities will have the opportunity to contribute. The aim is to ensure that each neighbourhood reflects the people that live within it.
Each police force is working to define the neighbourhoods in your area, and these may vary from force to force. A neighbourhood is usually a geographic area which is of a size that best serves the needs of the local communities. Neighbourhoods should be defined through consultation with partners and local people so that each neighbourhood reflects the people that live within it.
A few years ago Danny Gilhooly was a chief inspector in the South Yorkshire Police. Today, he works for the council and feels he is finally able to understand the real context for crime committed in Sheffield. This is thanks to the system popularly known as SNIS – Sheffield Neighbourhood Information System. It’s a new way of mapping data in 100 local neighbourhoods across the city. The system maps data in seven key areas, known as ‘domains’, that cover community safety, health and social care, economic activity, the environment, housing, education,and access to services. It is, for Danny, uniquely well placed to put crime in its proper context. “For the first time we’re able to say, ‘here’s crime in relation to what’s going on in the background’ and people are finding it an absolute eye opener.” As well as mapping crime in a particular area against correlating statistics in, for example, health or education, the system has also won praise for its definition of neighbourhood boundaries.
