The impact of a local community engagement intervention on residents’ fear of crime and perceptions of the police
| Author | Laura Purves,Gillian Routledge,Steven Lockey,Yuyan Zheng,Les Graham,Tom Redman |
| DOI | 10.1177/1461355719856039 |
| Published date | 01 September 2019 |
| Date | 01 September 2019 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
The impact of a local community
engagement intervention on residents’
fear of crime and perceptions
of the police
Steven Lockey
Durham University, UK
Les Graham
Durham University, UK
Tom Redman
Durham University, UK
Yuyan Zheng
Durham University, UK
Gillian Routledge
Durham Constabulary, UK
Laura Purves
Durham Constabulary, UK
Abstract
Policy-makers have called for community engagement to be made central to police operations in England and Wales, yet
little empirical investigation has been undertaken in this context to support its efficacy. This article uses a quasi-
experimental research design to review a community engagement intervention that aimed to develop citizens’
perceptions of social capital in their community, improve their perceptions the police, and reduce fear of crime and
antisocial behaviour (ASB) incidents. We also develop and test a conceptual model that explores the mechanisms by which
social capital may influence citizens’ fear of crime and perceptions of the police, positing that local area potency; the belief
that a group can be effective in achieving its goals, may be an important mediating mechanism. Results of independent
samples t-tests indicate that the intervention was successful in meeting its objectives in the area it was trialled. There were
significant increases in social capital, local area potency, confidence in the police and perceptions of police community
focus, and decreases in fear of crime and ASB. These results were generally not evident in a control area. Structural
equation modelling results supported the hypothesized model, indicating that local area potency mediates the
relationships between social capital and the project outcomes. These findings contribute to the limited empirical
evidence in support of the positive influence of community engagement in the United Kingdom, and indicate that
social capital and local area potency are important antecedents of citizens’ positive attitudes toward crime and the police.
Corresponding author:
Steven Lockey, Durham University Business School, Mill Hill Lane, Durham DH1 3LB, UK.
Email: steven.lockey@northumbria.ac.uk
International Journalof
Police Science & Management
2019, Vol. 21(3) 168–180
ªThe Author(s) 2019
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DOI: 10.1177/1461355719856039
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