Transcript

INTERVIEWER:

So Ben, what are the key considerations in decision making for community safety?

BEN:

I think for me the first thing has to be inclusion. So if we're talking about a decision that's going to be made on whatever subject, making sure that the people who are giving up their time and involved in the problem are part of that decision making process. So that's part one.

The second part is making sure that we communicate the process, our deliberations really clearly so people understand why we've got to where we have. And finally, it is about making that decision and sticking with it. Sometimes we'll get it wrong and we can be honest about that. But what we can't do is be undecided about a problem.

INTERVIEWER:

So how important is the national decision model for policing in community settings?

BEN:

I think it's really important and it's our decision making model of choice in the police service. The challenge I think for people involved in neighbourhood and communities is to actually go through the process of working around the model, but perhaps not making it obvious to partners that that's what we're doing because it can turn people off. But being able to use the model effectively but in a fairly discreet way is the way to succeed, I would say, in making a decision using the NDM.

INTERVIEWER:

And in community settings, obviously, decision making can be quite messy, dynamic, fast moving.

BEN:

It can, and I think that's where that inclusivity is so important because if people are included from the start, they can see why things have changed because any project that starts, the world, life can change whilst the project's ongoing and things have to adapt. And if they're included in that process, they can see why things have to change and perhaps we end up in a different place from that which we'd started.

INTERVIEWER:

OK, thank you very much, Ben.

BEN:

Thank you.