Community Policing is way forward say Lib Dems

5.51.51pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Sep 2004

'Short-term targets on crime reduction are damaging long-term community policing'

Andrew Simpson Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton North has spoken out at the Lib Dem Conference about moves in Northampton that will reduce the level of community policing in the town.

'The new Northampton Policing Plan concentrates officers into areas that are designated as needing 'priority policing' at the expense of other areas in the town.' said Andrew. 'Community Beat Officers who are supposed to serve individual council wards will be put into larger teams and will have less time for their individual areas. This is a backward step for community policing'

Liberal Democrats at their conference in Bournemouth have passed a policy pledged to 're-invigorate community policing' and to provide a 'minimum policing guarantee' for local communities.

'To me this means a a dedicated Community Beat Officer spends 100% of their time on ward' said Andrew. 'Whilst our local Police Authority are being pushed by the Government to achieve targets they are doing so at the expense of good community policing. This is a short term approach to meeting targets rather than a long term approach to tackling crime, reducing the fear of crime and building trust in the Police'.

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Click here to read the full text of Andrew's speech.