The National Debate on Policing

Sir Ian Blair, in his Dimbleby Lecture on 16 November 2005, asked three questions: What kind of police service do we want, who should decide and how? Policing, he said, “is becoming a contestable political issue as never before” and yet there is no “thorough going, objective debate about policing as a whole”. He went on to say that “the citizens of Britain now have to articulate what kind of police service they want”.

The Police Foundation, together with the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford, has already taken up Sir Ian’s gauntlet by dedicating the first of its Policing Policy Forum events to addressing the issue of what police service we want. Read more... 

Following the forum David Faulkner, John Graham and Ian Loader wrote about the beginnings of a national debate in the community engagement issue of Criminal Justice Matters (CJM) magazine. Read the article

In February 2006 the Power Inquiry published its findings on how to increase and deepen political participation and involvement in Britain. The Inquiry found that despite high levels of interest in political issues, the general public thought they had no real influence over the decisions made in their name. They feel alienated from political parties and the key political institutions, lack information and knowledge about formal politics and no longer believe formal democracy offers them the influence, equality and respect they believe is their due. To remedy this malaise, the Power Inquiry recommended, among other things, a more direct and focused influence on the political decisions that concern them.

The Foundation is working towards the development of a dedicated 'National Debate' website, which will enable the public to learn more about what the police do and who they are, before being asked their opinion on a number of important policing related issues. The results will be fed into the wider national debate.

The Foundation is currently seeking funding to develop this area of work. If you would like to contribute to or sponsor the debate, please contact us