9 November 2004
Neighbourhood and community focussed policing is at the heart of new proposals for the police forces across England and Wales announced today.
The new proposals will increase the visibility, accessibility and accountability of officers. Ten new commitments to citizens will set minimum standards of service when contacting the police, advice on the role of officers in an investigation and how to hold them to account.
People will also be able to know who is in charge of local policing and how they can be contacted.
The policy paper, ‘Building Communities, Beating Crime’, also sets out plans to fund the development of dedicated neighbourhood policing teams that will use community-based intelligence to tackle local crime.
A new national three-digit non-emergency telephone number will be in place by the end of 2006 to improve customer focus.
Launching the White Paper in Bexley, South East London, the Prime Minister said:
"The law-abiding citizen in the community should be in charge of the community, not the minority who want to cause trouble.
"There is still a majority who want to play by the rules and ensure that everyone else does.”
Tony Blair illustrated part of the proposals when he was handed a mobile phone and rung by one of the residents at the meeting. Under the plans being announced today, people will be able to get in touch with local officers on their mobile phones.
Home Secretary David Blunkett said:
"We need more police and more police community support officers but we actually need them to be accessible and for people to be able to get in touch."
"Reform is essential if our police service is to continue to cut crime and protect and empower law-abiding citizens and communities.
"Our policy paper sets out an ambitious and radical agenda, one that I hope will have the support of both the public and the police, and which can make a real difference to the strength and safety of our communities."
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