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COMMUNITY LIAISON: A SPECIALIST ROLE?

01 January 1991

COMMUNITY LIAISON: A SPECIALIST ROLE?
refdoc July=1991

NCVO/VC , User Ref = VC/NCVO
S V Phillips , R Cochrane
Home Office Research and Planning Unit Research Bulletin No 19,
1985, pp30-32.

Since the riots of 1981, more police community liaison departments
and officers (CLOs) have been established, which might indicate a
high level of commitment. Research shows that while this is true of
the CLOs, they lack support from their forces. Resources, managerial
directives and training are patchy, and the CLOs become
disillusioned. Of 6 forces studied, only one had established the
role and structure necessary to support the CLO. Credibility within
the force was also a real problem, though feedback from the
communities served was positive. The purpose of the work was
perceived variously, as public relations, explanation of the police
role, information about citizens' rights, or two way communication.
Most favoured one interpretation, and training was inadequate in
any case.

community policing, community liaison officer , Home Office
Research and Planning Unit

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