The Police and Public Involvement: Lessons from the National Health Service

Public involvement is an ill-defined but important part of government policy. This paper suggests that there are lessons police agencies can learn from the National Health Service in the UK with regard to evaluating public involvement, which is a fundamental activity within the democratic policing model. A study undertaken by the author has enabled an understanding of public and patient involvement (PPI) in terms of its real nature. The study recognises the value of PPI for patients, members of the public and the National Health Service (NHS), and suggests that it is critical to evaluate the outcomes of PPI interventions in order to ensure that the rhetoric of PPI becomes reality and is of value. An evaluation model is outlined which the author suggests could be adapted for use by police agencies not only for the purpose of public involvement but also in relation to improving all services delivered by the police.