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New Policing Strategy to Enhance Community Safety in England and Wales

Under new proposals set to be announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, police forces across England and Wales will establish specialized teams devoted to patrolling town centers, particularly during peak activity times. This initiative aims to address the perceived inconsistencies in policing services, often referred to as the “postcode lottery,” and ensure that every community has access to dedicated neighborhood officers.

The Labour government plans to implement a significant increase in police presence, with a goal of adding 13,000 new officers by the year 2029. Sir Keir Starmer is expected to highlight in his announcements that the visibility of police has seen a drastic decline, while he emphasizes that a staggering 90% of crimes go unsolved. He will also point to the increasing prevalence of issues such as shoplifting and anti-social behavior that have negatively impacted community life, arguing that re-establishing prevention as a core focus of policing is essential.

However, these ambitions come amid considerable financial strains within police forces nationwide, some of which are already warning about potential cuts to staffing levels. The National Police Chiefs Council had previously indicated that police forces are facing a financial shortfall estimated at £1.3 billion over the next two years. In response, the Home Office announced an additional £100 million allocation for neighborhood policing earlier this year.

Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp has voiced concerns regarding the resource needs of police, linking possible job losses to increased national insurance contributions for employers. He claimed that Labour’s fiscal policies have created a £118 million deficit for police services, jeopardizing over 1,800 police positions.

Despite these challenges, Labour has committed to bolstering neighborhood officer roles as a key pillar of their platform since the previous year’s general election. The proposed policing strategy aims to enhance patrols in identified “hotspot” areas during peak hours, particularly on busy nights like Fridays and Saturdays. Additionally, each police force will assign a lead officer specifically for tackling anti-social behavior, tasked with collaborating with local residents and businesses to create targeted action plans.

While police forces have the autonomy to determine their patrol schedules based on community needs, a government source indicated that the identification of peak timings would ultimately be at their discretion. The Liberal Democrats have urged the government to ensure that effective funding supports these plans, emphasizing that local authorities should not bear the financial burden of increased council tax to support more police officers.

A spokesperson from Reform UK has criticized the current focus of policing, suggesting that officers should prioritize essential duties instead of being sidetracked by administrative roles. They asserted that resources have been misallocated, pointing to substantial investments in diversity and inclusion initiatives rather than enhancing front-line policing capabilities.

The Green Party has been approached for comments regarding the new policing strategies, underscoring the bipartisan interest in the future of community safety.

Source
www.bbc.com