Consensus on local policing welcome but must be real

12.00.00am GMT Mon 31st Mar 2008

Commenting on the Government's neighbourhood "policing pledge", Liberal Democrat shadow Home secretary Chris Huhne said:

"Liberal Democrats welcome the growing consensus behind our long-standing commitment to local neighbourhood policing now that the evidence is clear that this is the way to deter crime and boost detection.

"The Government needs to make a much more serious commitment to neighbourhood policing by putting more police on the beat, by ensuring that police authorities are elected and accountable to local people, and by publishing crime and conviction figures at ward level throughout the country.

"This must not be another new Labour gimmick, but a deep improvement in the relationship between the police and the communities they serve".