Learning from the 2004 crime audit: crime prevention and community safety

This article assesses the current status and efficacy of Crime and Disorder reduction Partnerships (CORPs) based upon the results of crime audits conducted on behalf of three local CDRPs. These results are matched up against the government's National Community Safety Plan and the priorities identified within the Plan particularly those for local authorities the police and CDRPs. The article considers the impact of the failure to establish coterminous boundaries between police force areas and local authorities and the challenge this generates for local partnerships. The article also considers the problematic nature surrounding the delivery of crime reduction strategies within non-metropolitan counties. It argues that the two-tier local authority structure guarantees the likely failure of CDRP partnerships and that a review of local government structure is now needed. The article goes on to evaluate the impact of centrally set performance regimes on CDRP work, the lack of engagement among local authority management with CDRPs and the very low public profile that characterizes local partnerships. It argues for core funding for community safety; for coterminous boundaries for police and CDRPs and for public and effective accountability mechanisms to encourage much greater public awareness of, and participation, in the work of local partnerships.