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Brown and Smith unveil new neighbourhood police plans

25/02/2008

The prime minister and home secretary have today unveiled new plans to change neighbourhood policing policies.

Under the £325 million-a-year scheme, members of the public will be able to email or telephone their local police officer directly as the government seeks to combat unease regarding a perceived feeling of detachment from the police service.

And on a visit to Lambeth, south London today - where the plans were successfully trialled - Gordon Brown said every community in England and Wales would have its own dedicated policing team, encompassing police officers and police community support officers.

Contact details for each policing team will also be made available on a new national website, it was confirmed.

Announcing the plans, Mr Brown said the government realised people wanted "more say about their community and a visible and accessible police service that deals with local problems and anti-social behaviour".

"That is why we have been working with the police on a new style of policing to address local priorities, improve public confidence and make neighbourhoods safer," he went on.

"Neighbourhood policing is about giving local people power over how their streets are policed. It is a major step towards a new kind of policing - one in which in the citizen has real influence."

Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, added: "April will mark the start of a new kind of relationship between the police service and the public. Every household will hear from, be able to contact and be able to influence their local team.

"We want everyone to have the opportunity to shape their team's priorities."

Crime in Lambeth borough has fallen by 0.9 per cent since the introduction of the scheme.