It was also noted that when working within communities on issues such as this, policing by consent was important, and that was a term that was looked at. We noted that police stated in their annual report that for their effectiveness as an organisation, it was important that they did that with the consent of communities and worked alongside. Their focus on this approach has led to a style of policing that influences how they respond to communities. The select committee particularly picked up on this and asked how this approach affected the way that police would respond to gang-related crime. We heard that the approach of policing by consent in no way detracted from the seriousness in which the police approach gangs and gang offences. Rather, the approach is about ensuring that police maintain the trust and the confidence of the communities that they work within. 