John Battle MP Backs Neighbourhood Policing Plan

John Battle, Labour MP for Leeds West, welcomed yesterday's announcement from Home Secretary Charles Clarke that every community in the country will have its own dedicated neighbourhood policing team by 2008.

Mr Battle said, "Neighbourhood policing teams mean that local people will have the same police officers working in their area week after week. This builds a relationship between local people and their police. It means the police are more effective at beating crime because they know local people, they know the problems that exist and how to tackle them.

"Local people are at the heart of neighbourhood policing, they will get a say in how their area is policed and what the police's local priorities should be. These teams will make a real difference here in West Leeds, providing a reassuring police presence and making our streets safer.

"We have already seen a much higher police presence over the last two years in Armley, Bramley, Kirkstall and Wortley – on our streets, in our shopping centres, and even on our buses, and many constituents have told me how welcome this is. Nationally we have more police than ever before, and we are getting our share of them locally.

"The Tories would put all this at risk with their pledge to slash public spending by £35bn. Michael Howard cut police numbers when he was Home Secretary.”

Police numbers in West Yorkshire have risen by 244 between September 2003 to September 2004, to 5,479 officers in total.

Labour's Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, said:

"The Government and the police service are absolutely committed to delivering effective neighbourhood policing. We have put the resources in place, and we have record numbers of police officers supported by community support officers.

“But it must be a partnership - only by working hand in hand with local communities can we ensure that the police do not just provide a service to the community, but are a respected and integral part of it.

"Neighbourhood policing is about moving from policing by consent to policing with cooperation, actively engaging local people, winning their hearts and minds and responding to their needs and concerns. I believe that people do want to play a more active role in how their communities are policed and that involvement is crucial to cutting crime and making neighbourhoods safer."

Further Information:

• The Home Office neighbourhood policing booklet "Your Police;Your community; Our Commitment" is published today and is available on the Home Office police reform website.

• £340 million is being made available to fund 24,000 police community support officers (PCSOs) who, along with local wardens and special constables, will support regular police constables in tackling crime and disorder and making streets, estates and villages around the country safer.

• The 24,000 PCSOs will be on top of the record 140,000 police officers.

• The Government expects half the country to have neighbourhood policing by the end of 2007 with full implementation by 2008.

©John Battle MP 10 March 2005

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