Community Safety Units Becoming Neighbourhood Policing Teams

Kent Police has issued an update on a change to the name of Kent Police’s neighbourhood teams.

From Monday 7 September 2026, Community Safety Units (CSUs) will be known as Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs). This name is more recognisable for the public and better reflects the visible, local and problem-solving role of these teams. It also brings Kent Police in line with national terminology, College of Policing guidance and the Home Office Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, while complementing the centralised Child Centred Youth Justice Team (CCYJ) changes and reinforcing that NPTs remain at the heart of local partnership working.

This is a change of name only. There will be no change to team structures, personnel, responsibilities, service provision or existing points of contact.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams will still be made up of:

• Beat Officers: providing a visible and accessible policing presence, working closely with communities and partners to identify priorities, build trust and confidence, solve local problems and carry out targeted activity to prevent crime and reduce harm.
• Neighbourhood Task Forces: visible and flexible teams working with partner agencies to tackle the issues causing the greatest harm in local communities. Their focus will remain on tackling crime and antisocial behaviour, protecting vulnerable people, and targeting the offenders, locations and issues that matter most to residents.

Neighbourhood policing remains central to Kent Police’s approach to keeping people safe and reducing harm, and our partnership with councils and partners is fundamental to achieving this.

Kent Police My Community Voice Team.