Latest news with #NeighbourhoodPolicingGuarantee
Daily Mirror
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Police officer fall mapped as bungling top Tory mocked for whining about own record
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has been urged to show some 'humility' after going on the affack after a drop in police that happened on his watch - use our interactive tool to see how you are affected A top Tory has been left red-faced after accidentally attacking his own record in Government. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp went on the attack after official data showed a decline in police officer numbers of 1,316 between March 2024 and March 2025. However closer analysis shows that 1,232 of these posts were lost while he was policing minister last year. After a sharp drop last Spring - when around 400 officers were lost a week - numbers were more stable from the summer. In a video shared on social media, Mr Philp branded the fall "shocking" and said: "Under Labour numbers have fallen by 1,300 already." Labour Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said: 'Chris Philp has managed to attack his own record in Government, and advertised cuts to policing that he presided over. He was Policing Minister in a Government which cut PCSOs in half and slashed the number of Special Constables by two-thirds. Some humility would not go amiss. She said he was lucky he made the bungled attack after Kemi Badenoch reshuffled her top team. Dame Diana went on: 'This Labour Government is putting bobbies back on the beat, with a £200m cash injection to fund 3000 more officers and PCSOs this year alone as part of our Plan for Change.' Management information collected by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), officer numbers fell by 1,232 between March 2024 and June 2024 and by 84 between July 2024 and March 2025. In April Keir Starmer announced a 'summer crime blitz' where police will patrol town centres targeting shoplifters, pickpockets, phone thieves and anyone who assaults a shop worker. The government's 'Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee' aims to put 13,000 more officers into neighbourhood roles by 2029, an increase of more than 50%. The PM also said he wanted 3,000 new neighbourhood officers - including 2,500 police officers and nearly 400 police community support officers (PCSOs) - in post by the start of next year. The proposals aim to ensure that every community has its own named, contactable officers, dedicated teams on the beat, and guaranteed police patrols in town centres and other hotspot areas during peak times. It followed a Home Office announcement in January of an extra £100 million for neighbourhood policing in England and Wales. Excluding British Transport Police, there were 146,454 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers in England and Wales as of March 31, 2025. While that is less than a 1% fall from the previous year, it represents 1,307 fewer FTE officers. At the same time, PCSO numbers have dropped by 257 (3%), from 7,570 in 2024 to 7,313 FTE roles. The Met Police has seen by far the biggest drop in officer numbers, losing the equivalent of 1,020 FTE police officers. However, the Met did gain 78 additional PCSOs. South Wales Police lost the equivalent of 23 FTE officers and 77 PCSOs. Greater Manchester Police saw a reduction of 30 FTE police officers and 40 PCSOs, and Hertfordshire Constabulary saw numbers drop by 54 officers and 14 PCSOs. But not every force has seen a reduction. Bedfordshire Police gained 24 FTE officers and 10 PCSOs. North Wales Police recruited 17 extra police and 12 community support officers, and while West Yorkshire Police lost 35 PCSOs, the force gained 64 FTE police officers. Compared to the size of the population each force serves, the Met remains the best-resourced police force in the country. For every 10,000 people living in London, there are the equivalent of 39 police and community support officers. The Met is followed by Merseyside Police (30 officers per 10,000 people), Greater Manchester Police (29), and South Wales Police (29). Lincolnshire Police has the lowest ratio of officers to people, with 16 police and PCSOs for every 10,000 of the population. A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We are determined to rebuild neighbourhood policing, and as part of our Plan for Change, will put an extra 3,000 police and Community Support Officers on the beat by Spring next year, backed by a £1.2 billion cash investment. 'Ahead of that, forces across the country are rolling out named, contactable officers and high street patrols at peak times.'
Leader Live
12-07-2025
- Leader Live
National Safer Streets summer campaign launched in region
Running until September 30, the Home Office Safer Streets Summer initiative is part of the Government's mission to restore and strengthen local policing in communities. It also aims to reduce or prevent anti-social behaviour, which forms part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee announced by the Government last month. This initiative will see greater visibility of North Wales Police officers and staff as they target crime across hot spot areas. North Wales Police' s local policing and response officers, as well as Volunteer Special Constables, together with officers from specialist teams, will be focusing on increasing engagement, disrupting criminals and listening to any concerns. During the first week of the initiative, which launched on June 30, officers across the region have been busy making arrests, visiting schools, increased foot patrols, set up engagement events such as Cuppa with a Copper and assisted local authority partners. Officers have been focussing on crimes such as retail theft and have already made significant arrests. Last week, a prolific shoplifter was jailed for a series of shoplifting offences across Wrexham. Layton Vallance, 26, of no fixed address, appeared before Wrexham Magistrates Court after admitting five charges of theft from a shop. He was sentenced to serve a total 36 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £255 in costs. To try and deter anti-social behaviour, last week officers in Wrexham met with partners to help facilitate and promote youth clubs across the city and officers in Flintshire South have linked in with local schools to design posters which will be displayed across Mold over the summer period. TOP STORIES TODAY Man smashed city centre salon window causing injuries to hairdresser and customer Nurse risks 'throwing away career' after failing to provide sample for police North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Evans said: 'Our teams work hard all year round to help keep our communities safe, so as the summer brings more people out and about, along with an influx of visitors to North Wales, we will be stepping up high-visibility patrols – listening and responding in areas such as town centres and popular tourist hot-spot areas. 'Over the next three months there will be several activities taking place across the region that fall under Safer Summer Streets, including additional operations targeting retail crime, anti-social behaviour and knife crime. 'These are all matters that have a real impact on our businesses and communities and blight the lives of those living there. 'We will continue to target crimes which matter to people and will continue to listen to concerns and those who commit these offences can expect to face the consequences of their actions.' To report crime in your neighbourhood, contact North Wales Police via the LiveChat function on their website, or by calling 101. In an emergency always dial 999. You can also report anonymously to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111.
North Wales Chronicle
04-07-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Safer Streets initiative launched to keep Pwllheli safe
North Wales police and crime commissioner Andy Dunbobbin and deputy police and crime commissioner Wayne Jones visited Pwllheli on Sunday, June 30, for the launch of the UK Government's Safer Streets summer initiative. The initiative is backed by the Home Office and led by Police and Crime Commissioners. It aims to reduce antisocial behaviour and improve public safety through targeted action, with support from chief constables, councils, schools, health services, businesses, and other community organisations. (L-R) North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin, North Wales Police Area Inspector Iwan Jones and North Wales Police Constable Gwion Morris (Image: Supplied) Mr Dunbobbin said: "The launch of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative and Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee provide an important opportunity to highlight the real impact that antisocial behaviour has on our communities, affecting people's quality of life and sense of safety, as well as the strong and much-needed support and investment we are getting from the UK Government. "My visit to Pwllheli during this national campaign demonstrates my commitment to working with local officers and community partners to address these challenges head-on. "It's encouraging to see the proactive approach being taken here, from the visible police presence to the partnership working and use of available powers to tackle persistent offenders." As part of the scheme, police forces will use £66 million in hotspot policing funding this financial year to target areas of concern and deliver visible, community-led policing. The initiative supports the UK Government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which promises to deploy 13,000 additional police officers, PCSOs, and special constables in frontline roles. Pwllheli has already seen the benefits of neighbourhood policing, with officers addressing repeat offenders and working alongside housing providers and other agencies. The town is currently under a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) through the Community Safety Partnership, which has led to a reduction in antisocial behaviour. During their visit, Mr Dunbobbin and Mr Jones met with North Wales Police area inspector Iwan Jones and PC Gwion Morris. READ MORE: First-ever Inclusive Dance Festival for North Wales to take place in Bangor Major work gets underway to revitalise Holyhead's main street and beloved pub They toured problem areas, including the PSPO zone, retail parks, and housing estates. Inspector Jones said: "We've worked to maintain a visible presence on the streets of Pwllheli, and this visibility is crucial for both community reassurance and action against those who disrupt others' safety. "We've already seen encouraging signs with a decline in antisocial incidents through our Public Spaces Protection Order and officers in the area will continue taking robust action against antisocial behaviour to ensure Pwllheli remains safe and welcoming for everyone."
ITV News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Police forces across Wales are set to increase patrols and target anti-social behaviour hotspots
It's part of the UK Government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which will see 13-thousand more officers on streets and specialist training for local police.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
OPINION - Suffolk remains one of the safest places to live
I am delighted to announce the appointment of my deputy chief constable, Eamonn Bridger, who will be taking over this role when Rob Jones retires in September. This followed a rigorous application process. Eamonn is currently the assistant chief constable and has been in this post for four years. I look forward to continuing to work with Eamonn over the coming months. The constabulary is inviting applications all year round for its police constable programmes, with regular cohort intakes. Aspiring officers have two pathways to choose from. The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) is for those seeking a Level 6 qualification and culminating in a BSc (Hons) in Professional Policing Practice. Alternatively, the Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) provides a non-degree route, focusing on developing essential policing skills through a blend of classroom-based and hands-on learning over two years. Committed to fostering a diverse workforce, Suffolk Constabulary welcomes applicants with varied skills and experiences. For more information on these pathways, please visit It was lovely to meet with Suffolk's new High Sheriff Gulshan Kayembe last month. My colleague Eamonn attended the initial swearing-in ceremony at Ipswich Crown Court. This historic role has a very modern purpose in recognising, supporting and encouraging all those who work in the legal system and emergency services, and I look forward to working closely with Gulshan, who will be visiting various departments within the Constabulary throughout the next year. Last month, I made mention of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, where the government has confirmed the additional 13,000 police officers and police community support officers coming into UK police forces within the next 12 months. The Home Office are investing additional spending in each force, and we are working in partnership with the Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner to develop a delivery plan which will support all of the pillars which make up the Guarantee. Suffolk's community policing structure is already aligned well with the underpinning concepts of the neighbourhood guarantee, and we will continue to ensure this area of policing remains a high priority across the county. The Crime and Policing Bill is currently at committee stage within the Commons and, if passed, contains legislation and powers surrounding ASB, retail crime and public order which will support the implementation of the guarantee. Now some more great news – Suffolk remains one of the safest places to live, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) recently. The total recorded crime covering the 12 months to the end of December 2024 show that there were 58.1 crimes per 1,000 people, a decrease of 3.8% compared to the previous 12 months. Knife crime saw a drop of over 20%, while public order, stalking and harassment, robbery, drug offences, violence against the person, criminal damage, and possession of weapons also saw drops in recorded crime, compared to the previous 12-month period. It means Suffolk remains ranked third for the lowest levels of recorded crime in England and Wales. Five years ago, Suffolk was in 13th position in terms of its crime levels. To see us rated third once again for a third consecutive period shows a strong sense of stability and very productive and successful working. We have always been proud of having strong community links with our public in Suffolk, and the introduction of our new policing model in December 2023 has strengthened this relationship. Over the past year, the response from community leaders and residents has, on the whole, been very supportive, well-received and positive, which is really encouraging to hear, and I thank you all for your support. I would also like to thank my officers, staff and volunteers for their continuing hard work and commitment. Finally, I am looking forward to coming to the Suffolk Show at the end of this month – it is always such a lovely occasion, bringing together the public of Suffolk. There will be an opportunity for you to meet with myself and the Police and Crime Commissioner between 10.30am and 11.30am on the Wednesday, and the deputy chief constable Rob Jones and the Police and Crime Commissioner on the Thursday. Please do come and say hello, and let's keep everything crossed for some good weather.
