City of London Police – HMIC Communications Support

Supporting the creation of a compelling neighbourhood policing strategy, helping senior leaders shape narrative, secure buy-in, and prepare confidently for inspection.

The Context:

Ahead of a scheduled HMICFRS inspection, the City of London Police needed to clearly articulate its neighbourhood policing model - both for the inspectorate and for internal audiences.

Frontline officers were experiencing change fatigue, and the messaging around local policing priorities lacked clarity and consistency.

There was a risk that staff would disengage from the inspection process, or misrepresent the intended direction of travel during fieldwork.

Our Role & Approach:

IGS was engaged to produce a concise, high-impact strategy brochure that summarised the force’s neighbourhood policing approach in a way that resonated with officers.

Working closely with leadership, communications, and operational teams, we translated the strategy into accessible language and structure, with a clear call to action.

We also helped shape the narrative so that it aligned with HMICFRS expectations, while remaining grounded in the lived reality of policing in the Square Mile.

The Result

• Strategy brochure issued to all officers and staff ahead of inspection

• Internal feedback described it as “the clearest communication we’ve had” on local policing

• Senior leaders reported improved confidence among officers ahead of HMICFRS interviews

• Material was positively received by inspectors as a demonstration of strategic clarity and internal engagement