Police chiefs will be ordered to guarantee town centre patrols at peak teams – or risk losing out on funding.
The Government today announces there will be named and contactable officers in every neighbourhood to turn the tide against thugs and drug dealers. And forces will be told they could have cash withheld if they do not ensure officers are visible on the beat at key times, including Friday and Saturday nights.
Keir Starmer said it will end a policing postcode lottery after antisocial behaviour was allowed to fester under the Tories. He said: “Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure on the streets they call home. It is just about the most basic right that anyone would expect.
“Yet for years crimes such as shoplifting and antisocial behaviour have wreaked havoc on our neighbourhoods. Policing has become reactive, picking up the pieces after crimes have occurred.”
And Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said communities have been left feeling “abandoned” because they do not see bobbies on the beat. This has led to a sharp rise in robberies and “blatant drug dealing”, she said.
The Government says people across the country will be entitled to the same standards from police wherever they live. The Prime Minister will say today that visible policing has fallen dramatically in recent years.
Last year there were one million incidents of antisocial behaviour alone, No10 said. The pledges – which also include a dedicated antisocial behaviour lead on every force – have been welcomed by police and victims’ groups.
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Baroness Newlove, Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, said: “Some of the most harmful and enduring anti-social behaviour takes place in residential communities – away from the town centres and out of sight. The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee has real potential, but its impact will depend on trained officers who have the support and skills to be able to respond to every report – whether from a busy high street or a quiet cul-de-sac.”
And John Hayward-Cripps, Chief Executive of Neighbourhood Watch said the changes will improve links between police and the public. He said:“The advantage of having a named officer is that it humanises the relationship between the police and the community.
“People report greater trust and confidence in the police when they can reach out to an officer who knows their area, and the communities who live there. Evidence suggests that patrols alone don’t make a significant difference to cutting crime, what is effective is combining them with community engagement.”
Labour has pledged to put 13,000 more officers into neighbourhood policing roles by 2029 – an increase of more than 50%. The Government said every neighbourhood in England and Wales will have dedicated teams who will spend their time on the beat with guaranteed patrols in town centres and other hotspot areas at peak times.
Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh, who heads the College of Policing, said: “Our evidence shows that good neighbourhood policing reduces crime and builds trust with communities, and it remains a top priority for the College.
“We also know how important neighbourhood policing is to the public.” He said a specialist training programme will be rolled out in June.
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