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Public attitudes and perceptions of the police and crime, 2012 Olympics, migration, an ageing population and high profile incidents such as the Jean Charles de Menezes shooting and G20 Summit are some of the social drivers of change affecting the skill levels of the police over the next few years.

One of the biggest challenges is the 2012 Olympics. With a projected nine million spectators, 33 venues and 15,000 athletes, the police service and partner agencies are tasked with providing safety, security and resilience to the Games, alongside normal levels of policing. The police service will be put under world scrutiny at the games and it is essential the workforce has the right skills in the right places.

Public perceptions currently stand that only one in five believe that crime is falling even though overall crime has reduced by 32% since 1997. Additionally there is a perception gap between national and local crime rates, where local crime rates are perceived to be lower than national. With public confidence in policing remaining a key target it is essential the service effectively engages and communicates with the public.

The diverse population created by increased migration impacts on community cohesion and societal integration which in turn places new demands on the police. In turn the police workforce composition needs to reflect the public they serve. This is a key activity to help fight perceived discrimination and aid engagement with specific communities. High profile cases like the Jean Charles de Menezes shooting and G20 Summit have made a contribution towards shaping negative perceptions of the police.

Social issues such as stop and search see the police service managing tensions and expectations alongside the need to fight crime. Race and hate crime are rooted to social behaviours and attitudes and in turn challenge the skills of the workforce to combat these types of crimes.

The Ipsos-MORI Sigma Scan (November 2006) considered flexible working to be a key driver in the coming years. It was suggested that the uptake of non-standard working patterns is likely to increase across the labour market through such activities as flexible hours, multiple jobs and working from home. As the population ages, flexible working practices is a method to attract a more diverse workforce as the available 14-19 year old population shrinks.

References

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