Lib Dems launch Police Proposals (Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrats)

Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrats <info@twlibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems launch Police Proposals

August 16, 2004 10:17 AM

Michael Howard's plans to build more prisons will simply not tackle crime

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Mark Oaten has released the Liberal Democrat's detailed plans for police reforms. The key proposals include:·

Creating a new National Police Agency to fight national and international crime - this will free local police forces to concentrate on local policing issues.
Creating a new National Border Force to tackle cross-border terrorism, drug smuggling and organised immigration crime.
Creating a new Financial Crime Directorate to detect and investigate complex financial crimes that often requires specialist knowledge and policing techniques.

In addition, the Liberal Democrats propose a new 'minimum policing guarantee' to be agreed between local people and Chief Constables; allowing police to cut the demands of filling in paperwork by using new technology like voice-recognition software; and increasing the use of local custody suites and local courts to reduce the amount of time police officers have to spend travelling to distant locations.

If they were willing, near-retirement or retired police officers would be offered less strenuous duties within police forces to lessen the burden on front line officers. This would simultaneously boost front-line numbers while retaining the experience and knowledge of older police officers within forces.

Mark Oaten said:"The Liberal Democrats have put forward detailed plans for police reform. Our proposals will make a serious and substantial difference to the way we tackle crime in this country.

Noting crime doubled during the last Conservative government Mark Oaten continued "Mr Howard's plans to build more prisons will simply not tackle crime, and will only add to the number of people who re-offend and to the UK's already record prison numbers.

Author of the Liberal Democrat policing proposals 'A Force to be Reckoned With' David Heath MP added:"Our proposals seek to achieve multiple objectives: to better integrate national policing needs; improve the capacity of local forces to keep the peace and fight crime effectively in the communities they serve; make policing more accountable without compromising operational independence; and ensure that no matter where we live, be it inner city, suburb or rural England and Wales, we have the protection of a visible, responsive and successful police force."