PM hails a "new era" for policing
31 March 2008
The Prime Minister has launched a new "policing pledge" to establish set minimum standards for policing and give people a say on policing in their community.
The announcement came as the Prime Minister and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith visited a neighbourhood policing team in Coventry to celebrate the successful placement of dedicated teams in every community.
There are now more than 3,600 neighbourhood policing teams that can each be contacted by phone or at community meetings. Details have been made available on the new neighbourhood policing website (new window).
The policing pledge, to be implemented later this year, is expected to include guidelines such as how long it takes for calls to be answered, how a victim of crime is treated and supported, and how and when local crime information is provided to the public.
Speaking during today's visit, the Prime Minister said:
"Today marks a new era of policing. Police forces right across the country have done a magnificent job delivering this ambitious goal to give every household a dedicated police team. I congratulate them.
"Every community now has a visible, contactable, and accountable policing team, working with local people to keep their neighbourhood safe."
Mr Brown and the Home Secretary also visited an internet cafe, called Nettica, set up by neighbourhood police and local volunteers. The cafe provides internet access to young people in the local area four days a week and according to Inspector Dean Young, a local officer, has contributed to a 19 per cent fall in overall crime in the area.
Regular user Sam, who has used to the cafe to speak to friends online and search the web for a new flat, said it had been "a really great help".
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