Introduction

In the past year there has been significant focus on community engagement practice and activities across a range of agencies and services.

We are aware that specific detailed work has been carried out and is still being undertaken by a number of agencies and government departments to provide guidance and clarity about how best to engage with local communities to improve services.

The purpose of this guide therefore, is to present an overview of the policy context relating to community engagement with reference to crime reduction and significantly - to present promising practice from the boroughs. This guide seeks to reflect effective practice in order to help other boroughs learn from the successes already achieved across London.

The examples presented here are what the boroughs have reported as what worked for them. Some of the examples build on using existing forums and resources to engage the community while some are regarded as innovative and one has been nationally recognised as an example of good practice.

There is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach to community engagement and, consequently, this guide does not seek to provide a single, prescriptive method. Local methods of engaging communities need to be appropriately tailored to - and reflect the mix of - the communities agencies are trying to reach.

This guide is designed to help practitioners and those with a community engagement role, to understand and implement what can work best in their own areas.

This document will continue to be developed to keep it fresh and relevant to those with a community engagement role.

We welcome further contributions and examples for this good practice document on community engagement - so that we can continue to highlight good practice and support boroughs in engaging their communities to combat crime.

If you would like to add to these good practice examples with details of projects in your borough, please download and complete this questionnaire so that we can add them to the web pages.