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Stronger voice on local crime priorities for people of Luton
The positive impact of neighbourhood policing and the growing involvement of communities in the fight against crime was witnessed first hand by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith in Luton today.
Visiting the Hightown area of Luton, the Home Secretary congratulated the neighbourhood policing team for their work with the local community to reduce crime. The Home Secretary was shown a demonstration of the Car Accessory Protection Scheme (CAPS) project in which Police Community Support Officers fit anti-theft screws to number plates in order to ensure that car number plates cannot be tampered with if a car is stolen.
The Home Secretary also joined a meeting of the local residents and local council members to discuss local crime reduction methods. Meetings like these are just one of the ways that the public can tell their local police what they expect from them.
Luton police will implement the Policing Pledge by the end of the
year. This will give local people a stronger voice in setting
local police priorities and the means to challenge their local
force if they are not getting they service they expect. For the
first time the Policing Pledge gives the public a clear minimum
standard of service, including:
* the police to respond
immediately to emergencies - attending within 15 minutes and much
sooner if possible - and the police to attend within an hour in
response to calls about agreed neighbourhood priorities where
police attendance is required;
* the right to meet with their
local team and others in the community to agree priorities and
action to tackle them at least once a month and an entitlement to
crime maps, information on specific crimes and information about
what happened to those brought to justice in their neighbourhood;
and,
* that neighbourhood policing teams will spend at least
80 per cent of their time visibly working on behalf of the public
in their neighbourhood.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:
"I am determined to
see a police force that delivers for the public. The community
engagement undertaken by neighbourhood policing teams such as this
one in Luton builds confidence and reassurance in communities and
forges valuable relationships with local people.
"The public are our best weapon in fighting crime. I would encourage everyone to get to know their local neighbourhood policing team. Local people can then work with the police to decide the local crime and anti-social behaviour priorities for action in their neighbourhood. These will be enshrined in the local part of the Policing Pledge by the end of the year."
The Policing Green Paper, published earlier this year, removed all but one central target imposed on police forces - to increase public confidence that the police and other agencies are tackling local crime and anti-social behaviour priorities. That means now Luton's main focus will be on working closely with local communities to tackle the issues that really matter to them.
The Home Secretary also visited Jamia Masjid Ghousia Central Mosque where she met young people involved in the 'Ambassadors for Islam' project. As part of the Government's Prevent policy, the project works with a group of young Muslims to build understanding and arm them with the theological arguments to counter violent extremist ideologies. It works to develop their role as citizens, leaders and positive role models in order to become "ambassadors" for Islam and assert their British identity.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Policing Green Paper can be found at
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk
020 7035 3535
