Less well known is the reputation for innovative, community-friendly policing that Paddick built up during his 15 months in charge of the borough.
His approach was based on a simple principle: mutual respect. He seized every possible opportunity to meet and hear the concerns of local residents, and to defuse the "them-and-us" attitude that had developed between the police and locals, especially young Black people on the street. Stopping and searching of mainly Black young people in pursuit of small quantities of cannabis was one of the main causes of this tension, and Paddick saw that it had no appreciable effect on crime levels. Community leaders themselves wanted far more attention paid to the crack trade and the problems associated with it.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
