HOME OFFICE News
Release (135/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 17 July 2008
Radical new plans
to cut red tape and give the police more freedom to get on with
the job of reducing crime, combined with new measures to increase
public confidence in the police and give the public a greater say
about how their communities are policed, were outlined by the
Government today.
Today's Policing Green Paper: 'From the neighbourhood
to the national' sets out how the Government will build on
the achievements of the last decade, working with the police to
continue to drive down crime, drive up public confidence, and give
local people more information and a bigger say in how their
neighbourhood is policed.
The announcement follows publication of the annual crime
statistics today that show the Government has exceeded its aim to
reduce all crime by 15 per cent since 2002/03, with an overall
reduction of 18 per cent, and that the risk of being a victim of
crime is at the lowest level ever recorded.
The key measures announced today include:
* A new Policing Pledge setting out what local people can expect
from their local police team - with clear national standards,
including the amount of time spent on the beat, easy ways to
contact your local neighbourhood team, and clear response times to
all calls and incidents.
* A stronger voice for local people - regular information on
crime, including crime maps, and action being taken to tackle it
and regular local meetings to discuss priorities, backed by new
directly elected Policing Representatives.
* Removing all but one top down target that impacts on police
forces - to increase public confidence in the police and other
agencies to reduce crime.
The Green Paper outlines how the police will be given more
freedom to deliver what local people want and to cut crime
locally. The Government will now set national target for forces
based on improving public confidence while delivering further cuts
in crime.
Launching the Policing Green Paper, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said:
"We are determined to keep our streets safe - taking knives
off the streets, dealing with wider issues of youth crime, the
continuing challenges of drugs and organised crime, and of course
the fight against terrorism.
"But we should not lose sight of the fact that over the last
decade, overall crime is down by a third - thanks in large part to
the hard work, dedication and courage of the police - with over
10,000 more officers in addition to new community support
officers, and every area of the country since April now having its
own neighbourhood police team.
"We are determined to build on this achievement.
"Today's proposals will cut red tape and top-down
targets, freeing the police to focus on the most serious crime and
on local issues. At the same time we are setting out for the first
time clear minimum standards for what people can expect from their
local police teams; and giving them more information on crime and
what is being done to tackle it at local level, and a stronger
voice in working with the police to decide local priorities.
"This is a vital part of this government's commitment
to build a fairer safer Britain."
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:
"Our Green Paper is setting out a new deal for the public
and the police. I am grateful for the hard work of our police
colleagues and others in helping draw together these proposals.
We all want to see a police force that delivers for the public,
with everyone receiving the same high standards wherever they
live. The public are the best weapon to help tackle crime. They
need to be clear about what they can expect from the police and
that is why I'm putting them at the forefront of setting priorities.
"I want to help the police to continue to cut crime, drive
up confidence and deliver for the public. Today's plans give
greater freedom for the police matched by more power to the public."
Other proposals announced today include:
* An new enhanced role for Her Majesty's Inspectorate of
Constabulary (HMIC), giving them a greater role to robustly and
transparently scrutinise police performance.
* The appointment of Jan Berry as an independent bureaucracy
champion to drive further cuts in red tape and free up extra
police hours.
* An extra £25M to invest in new technology and IT systems to
help save time and reduce the need for officers to return to the
station to fill out paper work.
* Fast track routes to the top for highly performing police
officers and a new National College of Police Leadership.
* Standardised uniforms and age of entry for Police Community
Support Officers.
The Green Paper is the Government's substantive response to
the independent review of policing by Sir Ronnie Flanagan and
Louise Casey's review 'Engaging communities in fighting
crime'. Many of the measures in the Policing Green Paper take
forward their recommendations.
Leading the work to cut bureaucracy Jan Berry said:
"I was both surprised and flattered to be invited to
undertake this important new role, which, having given careful
consideration to, am pleased to accept. I do not under-estimate
the challenge this role presents and will not hesitate in drawing
attention to unnecessary record keeping or demands on police,
wherever they may come from.
Throughout my career in policing I have understood the value of a
professional police presence on our streets, with Constables being
trusted to use their common sense and discretion to resolve local
problems and cut crime. New mobile technology already is and has
the potential to assist and I look forward to working with my
colleagues to make a real difference, maximising still further
their presence on the street."
Today's Green Paper builds on the substantial achievements
in policing and tackling crime already delivered. Earlier in the
year the Government reached the milestone of a neighbourhood
policing team in every area, with nearly £1 billion pounds over
the last three years spent supporting police forces in rolling it
out. The police workforce has grown and changed, there are now
nearly 140,000 officers, 16,000 PCSOs and over 76,000 civilian
staff. Overall crime is down by a third in ten years and the fear
of crime is at its lowest level since 1981.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The Policing Green Paper can be found at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk
2. Local Partnerships will continue to focus on what matters to
their communities by delivering against their Local Area Agreements.
3. Sir Ronnie Flanagan's Independent Review of Policing
reported back in February and more recently the independent review
by Louise Casey 'Engaging Communities in Fighting
Crime'. Many of the recommendations from these reports are
being taken forward by today's Policing Green Paper.
4. The tripartite review of PCSOs, "Neighbourhood Policing
Programme: PCSO review", has also been published today on the
NPIA website (http://www.npia.police.uk).
The review was commissioned by the Home Office, APA and ACPO to
consider the role and function of PCSOs, as well as their powers,
equipment and training. PCSOs are a unique and valuable addition
to the policing family and a vital part of the communities they
serve. We want to maintain this momentum and to continue to
support and develop this important role. The Review made 22
recommendations, which will be taken forward in an action plan
being developed by the NPIA.
5. Also published today is the Home Office Research Report -
Analysis of Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Activity Based
Costing (ABC) data: results from an initial review at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds
The report summarises the activities undertaken by PCSOs while on
active duty.