1. The limits of citizen participation in policing
Rob Beckley, Marian FitzGerald
Simon Cole
9th October 2012

2. Evidence shows that large sections of the public won’t engage so
1) How can the police
Achieve the maximum participation of those who will engage but
Recognise any necessary constraints on their involvement
Without unnecessarily putting them off?
2) What are the implications for the majority who won’t engage - in terms of the service
nonetheless picking up their views and concerns and
safeguarding itself from being ‘co-opted’ by those who will engage – possibly to the detriment of other sections of the public?

3. Ways of reaching the non- engaged
Forms of engagement
Ways of reaching the non- engaged
1. Consultation
Surveys
On-off meetings
Regular meetings
Elections
2. More active participation
Direct observation
Unpaid voluntary work
Advisory input
Eg. IAGs, KINs
Outreach to groups/places where non-engaged cluster
Feedback from individuals routinely in contact with non-engaged (eg. KINs)

4. Pitfalls and challenges
Engaged
Non-engaged
Consultation
More active participation
Outreach/third party feedback
Recruitment 
Representativeness
Renewal
Information sharing
Managing conflicting views/demands

5. In the light of which…
How do you ensure an appropriate accountability in this environment, or are the police too concerned about accountability and try and control citizens?
Are there limits, rubicons we cannot cross?
How do we ensure the right people participate?
Does the culture of policing really welcome voluntary participation, or does it just pay lip service to it?