Latest news with #NeighbourhoodPolicingGuarantee
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.
Epoch Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Starmer Unveils Plans to Boost Community Policing and End ‘Culture of Crime'
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to boost the number of officers on patrol in an effort to rebuild trust in community policing and tackle the 'culture of crime.' From July, communities in England and Wales will see a return of 'bobbies on the beat,' with guaranteed police patrols in town centres and other areas which are hotspots for crime. There will also be more patrols at peak times in those areas, such as on Friday and Saturday nights. Other initiatives to improve committee policing will see each neighbourhood have named, contactable police officers. There will also be dedicated anti-social behaviour leads in every force, which will work with businesses and residents to deliver tailored policing for their areas. These changes form part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee unveiled on Thursday, which the government says will respond to record levels of anti-social behaviour as well as increases in street crime. 3,000 New Officers by 2026 In the long-term, the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will put 13,000 more officers into communities by 2029, an increase of 50 percent. Announcing the plans during a visit to Cambridgeshire Police Headquarters in Huntingdon, Starmer said that the first 3,000 new neighbourhood officers will be deployed by the start of next year, 'all of them visible on the beat and serving their communities—not stuck behind a desk.' Related Stories 11/22/2024 9/24/2024 Starmer also vowed to tackle anti-social behaviour, rejecting the idea that it should be dismissed as a 'low-level crime,' but rather one that impacts individuals, families, and communities. 'We've got to end this culture of crime that is destroying our communities,' the prime minister said. 'These major reforms will help us prevent crime in the first place,' Starmer said, continuing, 'to tackle it when it happens, and to stop it from spiralling.' Neighbourhood Policing 'Decimated' He also pointed to Labour's commitment to reducing trends in crime, highlighting last year's announcement of an extra £1 billion in funding for forces, including £200 million specifically for neighbourhood policing, and the introduction of new ' These pledges come against a backdrop of record levels of anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer joins officers on patrol in Huntingdon, England, on April 10, 2025. Joe Giddens/PA Wire According to the The crime survey also revealed that police had recorded 1 million incidents of anti-social behaviour, with more than one-third (36 percent) of people experiencing or having witnessed anti-social behaviour, up from 34 percent the previous year. Starmer blamed the last government for having 'decimated' neighbourhood policing, saying it had become a 'post code lottery' on what sort of service people got. 'The proportion of people who saw a uniformed officer in their local area was halved in the last decade, and the result: crime soaring in our town centres and public confidence in policing going down,' he said. Law and Order 'Taking a Back Seat' Law and order is likely to be a key policy issue in the upcoming local elections, with a YouGov tracker In response to the prime minister's plans, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said that the previous Conservative government had delivered record police officer numbers, 'but law and order is taking a back seat under Labour.' He also linked potential police job losses to the rise in employer national insurance contributions. Philp told reporters, 'Thanks to Labour's jobs tax, our police services face a £118 million shortfall, putting over 1,800 police jobs at risk.' 'What's more, the Metropolitan Police are cutting 1,700 jobs and services, including moving officers out of schools, making our streets and schools less safe,' he added.
ITV News
03-05-2025
- ITV News
Almost a quarter of Devon and Cornwall Police officers plan to leave according to new survey
Nearly a quarter of Devon and Cornwall Police officers intend to resign from police service 'within the next two years' or 'as soon as [they] can' according to a new survey. The 2024 Police Federation of England and Wales Pay and Morale report found that 57% said they were facing low morale. The organisation surveyed 1,024 Devon and Cornwall Police officers and also found that: 77% feel 'worse off' financially now than they were five years ago 17% 'never' or 'almost never' have enough money to cover all their essentials 65% are dissatisfied with their pay 71% say they do not feel valued within the service 15% say they've suffered one or more injuries that required medical attention as a result of work-related violence in the last year 69% say their workload has been 'too high' or 'much too high' over the past year 81% say they've experienced feelings of stress, low mood or anxiety over the last 12 months Libby Squire: Mum of murdered student warns of 'red flag' signs of offending Claire Chick's murder triggers 'urgent police review' into stalking Rob Greening, secretary of Devon and Cornwall Police Federation, said: 'The pay and morale survey for Devon and Cornwall Police makes stark reading and unfortunately, when compared to previous years, the situation does not seem to be improving. 'Our members work in extremely stressful and dangerous situations, to afford the public the safety and protection they expect and deserve. "Some officers are having to use foodbanks, others struggle to pay their rent. This should not be the case. 'What the police take home is criminal. Officers have copped enough. Things need to change.' In response to the survey, Devon and Cornwall Chief Constable James Vaughan, said: "Policing remains a very challenging and difficult job, and despite increased demand and limited resources, our dedicated officers continue to fight crime and protect the public every day to make Devon and Cornwall safe. 'Since my appointment in December 2024, I have met over 2000 officers and staff in stations across the force area, to understand their roles and listen to their views, challenges and ideas. I will continue to spend time with staff and officers, to understand where support is needed to protect our workforce and improve morale. 'Officer numbers will continue to be boosted through the Government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, an investment into neighbourhood policing which will support the increase of neighbourhood officers in years to come and alleviating the pressure on our frontline. 'I want every member of the organisation to feel confident that their wellbeing is taken seriously and that they are being properly supported. I am committed to ensuring officers know that we are listening and feel valued and supported."
BBC News
11-04-2025
- BBC News
More Devon and Cornwall officers on the beat thanks to funding
More police officers will be on the beat in Devon and Cornwall after a £4.7m grant from the Home grant meant 45 more police officers would be deployed into neighbourhood police teams, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly also means 55 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will be recruited, as well as 10 special constable and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said the funding was "fantastic news". Hernandez said increased policing was "proven to improve confidence and reduce crime".The funding forms parts of the government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee - which has made £200m available to police forces nationally in 2025/2026 to support the increase of neighbourhood officers in years to come. Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said neighbourhood policing was at the centre of how the force supported said: "We will ensure these 110 officers and staff respond to what our communities need and have been telling us. "They will be visible and accessible within our villages, towns and cities tackling antisocial behaviour and local crime."The neighbourhood policing grant is in addition to £1m funding from the Home Office to deliver hotspot policing in Devon and Cornwall for a second 2024-2025, the project delivered more than 22,000 hours of foot patrols by police and local authority street marshals, the OPCC said.
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Concerns raised over plan to cut jobs at Gloucestershire Police
A former police officer said a force is looking through "rose-tinted glasses" if it thinks it can provide the same service after cutting 60 Police will redeploy its mounted officers and reduce the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) as part of the changes to save more than £12.3m in the next to the news, former officer Lee Thompson said he does not think Gloucestershire Police "will be able to provide the service the public are paying for".Chris Gordon, CEO of community hub The Keepers, says that PCSOs have been "valuable" in listening to residents' concerns would not like to see them cut. 'More tax, less service' The cuts come as Gloucestershire Police announced plans to expand its neighbourhood policing capacity using government force is expecting funding from the government as part of its Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, with temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth telling the BBC the next 12 months "are going to be really tough and involve some really difficult choices".Mr Thompson was in the force for 20 years, and said the cuts came at a time where there are "more buildings going up" and "more people" to police."You're paying more [council] tax and getting less service," he said."There's always been cuts, all the time I was in [the force], but this is a big cut."There are areas where they can cope with the horses and that but it's still a lot to cut back on and for them to say they'll still give the same service, I think they're looking through rose-tinted glasses." The Keepers in Wotton-under-Edge provides everything from food to professional advice and adult education. Mr Gordon, its CEO, said he hoped for "not a lot" of police interaction when the hub was founded in 2020, but the PCSOs have been "valuable" in listening to residents' concerns."It feels like it's back to the old days... they really know everybody locally and everybody knows them by name," Mr Gordon said."Fingers crossed we don't have to pick up the pieces but sometimes, inevitably, we do." Gill Westlake claims she has not "ever seen a policeman around" since moving to the Dursley area about 10 years this in mind, she said the cuts would be "a pity", although she does feel safe due to her neighbourhood watch group and the WhatsApp group for her cul-de-sac."We inform each other about suspicious activity and that helps us keep tabs on what's happening," she said.
