One of the most important aspects of the Policing Plan process is the consultation work carried out by the District Policing Partnerships (DPPs).
DPPs consult with the public in their council area to find out people’s views about how their area is policed. They do this in a range of ways including public meetings, focus groups, and DPP consultation surveys. The fifth DPP Public Consultation Survey was carried out in February 2010 and involved a postal survey of 74,000 households across Northern Ireland. The outcome of all this consultation is taken into account by the Policing Board and the PSNI in developing the objectives, indicators and targets contained in the Annual Policing Plan.
As well as consulting with DPPs, the Policing Board takes account of a wide range of information when determining policing priorities for the Annual Policing Plan. Each year the Policing Board and the PSNI hold a joint Strategy Event to agree the policing priorities for the coming year. At this event, Policing Board Members and the PSNI consider inputs such as the Justice Minister's policing objectives, PSNI and Policing Board strategic issues, DPP priorities, National Policing Plan targets, Home Office Crime Reduction targets, National Audit Office Recommendations, PSNI performance information, and any representations made to the Policing Board.
