Chris Huhne

Liberal Democrats launch General Election plans on policing

The Liberal Democrats will today set out their General Election plans to put 3,000 more police out on the beat to cut crime.

Launching Safer Streets – More and Better Police during a visit to Durham today [Thursday], Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg and Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne will reveal research showing that:

Police numbers have fallen in 18 out of the 43 police forces (42%) in England and Wales since 2005. Two thirds of these police authorities are currently controlled by the Tories and one third by Labour

The new officers proposed under Liberal Democrat plans could be expected to make an additional 27,500 arrests and solve more than 24,500 extra crimes each year in England and Wales alone

The extra officers, funded by the savings from scrapping ID cards, would be provided over the course of a Parliament with every area in England, Wales and Scotland benefiting.

The plans to cut crime through more and better policing also include:

Elected police authorities

Publishing detection data as well as crime data at ward level

A review of the restrictive terms and conditions for police officers, including introducing an annual fitness check for all officers on the beat

Commenting, Nick Clegg said:

“The Liberal Democrats are the only party that wants to cut crime by putting more police on the street.

“When only one in a hundred crimes ends up with a conviction in court, it is time for things to change.

“Labour and the Conservatives may talk tough but they are unwilling to make the crucial decisions to cut crime.”

Commenting further, Chris Huhne added:

“With so many forces seeing cuts in numbers, this is the right time to be promising a longer arm for the law.

“The Liberal Democrats would rather have more police officers and catch more criminals than continue with unnecessary and expensive ID cards.

“Getting more police on the beat and reforming the way they work is the only way to create safer streets.”

Notes to Editors

1. A copy of the Liberal Democrat General Election policing plans Safer Streets – More and Better Police, is attached. Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne are today [Thursday] visiting the Eddy Project run by the Durham Constabulary, an example of effective policing that prevents crime that could be expanded under Liberal Democrat plans.

The Eddy Project diverts young people away from crime and anti social behaviour by developing social and citizenship skills. Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne will see first hand how the project co-ordinator PC Andrew Bustin works with school children on issues like online safety, driving safely and stranger danger.

2. A spreadsheet, 3,000 Police – Numbers per Force, is attached, which gives details of the number of new officers in each area.

3. A spreadsheet, Officer Numbers, is attached, which gives details on the forces in which police numbers have fallen between March 2005 and September 2009 and also between March 2009 and September 2009. This also gives details of the current political control of the police authority.

4. A spreadsheet, Arrests and Detections, is attached, which gives details on the number of additional arrests and detections each police force in England and Wales could expect every year from their new officers.

5. Policy summary:

Police Numbers

At this time of enormous budget deficit, much spending will need to be cut. But in key areas of public policy where more investment is needed, the money must be found. That is why we have decided to prioritise a limited commitment to increasing police numbers by 3,000 over the course of a Parliament. We believe this is vital if we are to build a strong, fair and secure society as we emerge from recession.

Local Accountability

The Liberal Democrats would give far more power to police authorities. They should have the sole right to sack and appoint the Chief Constable, set local policing priorities, agree any national minimum standards, determine budgets, and have their council tax precepts capped by Whitehall. We would give local people a real say over their police force through the direct election of police authorities by fair votes.

More Effective Policing

The Liberal Democrats would review the very restrictive terms and conditions for police officers – a single point of entry into the force, 30 or 35-year lifetime employment and pay determined by seniority – to see if they are still appropriate. We are also proposing an annual fitness test for police officers. There should be a renewed effort to cut unnecessary police paper-work and to replace form-filling with voice-recognition technology, hand-held computers, and civilian keyboard operators who could take details over the radio. Best practice also needs to be more effectively spread between police forces. The National Police Improvement Agency should be given a wider remit and more resources to scientifically test what works. The new National Crime Reduction Agency should aim to do for policing and criminal justice what the National Institute for Clinical Excellence does in the health service.