A proposal has been made to utilize libraries, shopping centers, and supermarkets as police front desks due to a concerning decline in their numbers over the past decade, as highlighted by recent statistics shared with government ministers.
The Liberal Democrats are set to push for the establishment of numerous police front desks in England and Wales this Saturday, suggesting funding by eliminating police and crime commissioners. Lisa Smart, the party’s spokesperson for home affairs, expressed to The Mirror that a series of closures during the Conservative government’s term has resulted in decreased crime reporting rates among the public.
She emphasized the need to remove obstacles preventing people from interacting with law enforcement, stating that many individuals feel disconnected from police services, find it challenging to report crimes, and believe that officers require more public input to solve criminal cases.
Data obtained through Freedom of Information requests reveals a 26% decrease in the number of police counters, dropping from 365 to 268 between 2015 and the present. Of the 20 police forces surveyed, Bedfordshire Police showed the most significant reduction in front desks at 78% over the past decade. Surrey Police experienced a 60% decline, while West Midlands, West Yorkshire, and Metropolitan forces saw reductions of 58%, 53%, and 52%, respectively, in their regional desk numbers.
During her address at the beginning of the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth, Ms. Smart will propose covering the costs by abolishing police and crime commissioners (PCCs). The party has persistently called for the removal of PCCs, which were introduced by the coalition government in 2012.
Research conducted by the Liberal Democrats revealed that PCCs incurred £100 million in administrative expenses from 2019 to 2023, with the West Midlands commissioner receiving an annual salary exceeding £100,000. Ms. Smart stressed the importance of visible and accessible police services within communities, advocating for officers to be present, known locations for the public to provide information easily.
She criticized the Conservatives for weakening neighborhood policing efforts and accused the current government of lacking a concrete strategy beyond superficial statements. The Liberal Democrat crime chief noted that the Labour Party has focused excessively on urban centers, neglecting rural areas in terms of law enforcement attention.
Additionally, she urged the government to clarify its plans to enhance neighborhood policing by adding 13,000 officers and PCSOs to the teams. The government has committed to deploying 3,000 officers by next March and fulfilling the total quota by the end of the current parliamentary term in 2029.
Ms. Smart emphasized the need for increased resources in policing, criticizing the previous Tory government for underfunding the sector. She highlighted the necessity for long-term planning by chief constables and expressed disappointment in the government’s lack of clarity on this matter.
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