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Neighbourhood Policing

I was there as the officers made their presentations to the Prime Minister, and I felt proud of their professionalism as they did so and answered the Prime Minister's searching questions, which were rather like the hon. Gentleman's. The officers gave the Prime Minister this kind of example: the domestic investigation arrest log, which collects information on domestic violence cases, was once a 20-page form but has now been reduced to 10 pages; a 16-page traffic collision form is now eight pages; and the usual recording form for what police regard as non-serious crimes, which they reckon make up 80 per cent. of the total, has been reduced from 16 pages to one. As I said, Staffordshire police have also been trialling hand-held mobile data computers at Longton, which is not in my constituency but in Stoke-on-Trent, and have found that they reduce the need to fill in paper forms by enabling officers to make direct contact with the police national computer and the police station. Those are all examples of how police officers on the beat have more time to do their proper work as a result of spending less time filling in pieces of paper. As the hon. Gentleman asked about it, another presentation that the police made to the Prime Minister involved a Staffordshire pilot of a speedy justice initiative. When evidence is collected, if a guilty plea is anticipated, the police officer responsible for the case can submit minimal evidence on paper to the Crown Prosecution Service instead of a raft of paper prepared specially in case of a not guilty plea. Those are the examples given to the Prime Minister in Stafford just a month ago. I was there, and the police and I made the point together that neighbourhood policing and reducing bureaucracy are intrinsically linked. After the visit, the chief constable said:"““By tackling the culture of form-filling, we want to free up extra time and space for our officers and staff to deliver a better service, engage with communities and change public opinion””." That is what is at stake in Staffordshire's offer to implement the Flanagan report's recommendations locally and early. I accept that offer willingly, and I urge the Minister to do the same. Will he say today that the Home Office will back Staffordshire's plans with money for the investment needed, especially in new technology? We are currently using 175 mobile data devices in the pilot at Longton. The police say that with the money, they will roll out 1,200 devices to front-line police officers by September. How quick is that? Is it not an offer worth accepting? Nationally, as in Staffordshire, Home Office policy on neighbourhood policing should focus, as Sir Ronnie observed, on supporting and sustaining the model being set up. Like Sir Ronnie, I welcome the decision to ring-fence PCSO funding for a further year. Overall, the funding this year for neighbourhood policing, including PCSOs, will be £324 million, a 2.7 per cent. increase from last year. The settlement shows that the Home Office is committed to making a success of neighbourhood policing, and I thank the Minister for that. I acknowledge the other good work that all police services carry out alongside neighbourhood policing. Response policing bears the brunt of public service and crime detection. The last time I had cause to call the police personally—I thought that I was witnessing a possible burglary—the response was excellent, but others report mixed response times to me. The drive to reduce bureaucratic burdens promises the best gains for response policing. However, when I met representatives of manufacturing businesses recently, they warned me against over-reliance on neighbourhood policing and response policing. They were concerned about organised criminal gangs' targeted thefts of their metal stocks as a result of huge rises in the price of metals. The manufacturers made the point—valid, I am sure—that between neighbourhood policing and response policing, there lies a wide range of complex and inter-related police services to be delivered. In focusing on neighbourhood policing, I would not want anyone to think that I do not appreciate all the other police services. I have a high regard for the expertise and professionalism of detectives, scene of crime officers, domestic violence and prolific and persistent offender teams, scientists, intelligence officers and special branch officers—I met many of them during my recent tour of the new offices at Weston road in Stafford, and I met 999 and other call handlers with the Prime Minister on the day that he came—reception and support staff, cadets, traffic police, members of specialist services such as fraud and internet investigation, and those involved in crime prevention and neighbourhood watch. Even with that long list, I am sure that I have missed many. Let us all work together to make neighbourhood policing an effective operation for modern police services. Let us ensure that we embed it for the long term. We in Staffordshire certainly embrace the Flanagan reform agenda, including cutting form lengths and reducing record-keeping to free up more time for front-line policing. We are willing to roll out mobile data across the whole police service in Staffordshire. We just need the money, Minister; let's have it.