WHEN Britain seeks to learn lessons from American police it triggers headlines about “Robocop” or Judge Dredd. But now a gentler voice is coming from the other side of the Atlantic, talking about communities, trust and listening.

The police chief of Chicago will this week talk to Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, and Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, about implementing a softly-softly approach to the battle against crime in the capital.

Superintendent Philip Cline will also speak at a conference in Westminster on Wednesday, where the force’s Safer Neighbourhoods programme — largely modelled on the Chicago initiative — is being promoted. Crime rates in America’s second city have fallen for 14 years running. The number of murders in Chicago in 2004, at 448, was the lowest since 1965. The city has a population of 2.8 million against 7.3 milllion for London, which had 194 murders in that year. Chicago police credit much of the improved crime figures to their efforts in winning trust among communities; hundreds of neighbourhood “beat meetings” are held every month.

Sir Ian has sought to replicate the Chicago scheme by introducing teams of dedicated beat officers in London. He said: “The public has made it clear they want Safer Neighbourhoods teams on their wards and I have absolutely no doubt that the teams are the future of local policing — providing an accessible, visible and accountable policing presence underpinned by genuine community engagement.”

Much of Labour’s plan for reforming the police is broadly based on the Chicago strategy started in 1993. Elements combine basic policing with problem-solving that includes tackling antisocial behaviour.

The strategy involves halting physical decay, including tackling abandoned vehicles, graffiti and empty houses, and dealing with social disorder such as public drunkenness. Under the Met’s Safer Neighbourhoods strategy every ward in London will have a dedicated policing team.

Monique Bond, spokesman for Chicago Police, said yesterday: “We believe in sharing information with the community, forming relationships and fostering trust.”

This, she added, had helped to tackle some drug gangs, while also reducing the fear of crime and fear of police.

The Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy has provided police with improved intelligence and tip-offs.

Robbery fell by 58 per cent between 1991 and 2001; robbery with guns by 62 per cent. But gang-related assaults did not fall and between 1994 and 2001 many neighbourhoods perceived no improvement in the physical condition of their districts, according to an evaluation of the Chicago strategy.

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