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Search for press releasesEssex congratulated for delivering police pledge
4 November 2008
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today joined Essex Police to congratulate them on being the first police force to deliver the new national Policing Pledge.
Visiting the All About Centre (new window) in Laindon, Essex, the Home Secretary and Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Adviser Louise Casey joined a community meeting between the police and local residents discussing policing priorities for the area.
They witnessed first hand the positive impact of neighbourhood policing and the growing involvement of communities in the fight against crime.
Following the meeting, Chief Constable Roger Baker and representatives from the neighbourhood policing team unveiled the new pledge
Clear standards
For the first time, the Policing Pledge (new window) gives the public a clear minimum standard of service, including:
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the police be with them within an hour in response to calls about agreed neighbourhood priorities where police attendance is required
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the right to meet with their local team and others in the community to agree priorities and action to tackle them at least once a month and an entitlement to crime maps, information on specific crimes and information about what happened to those brought to justice in their neighbourhood
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that neighbourhood policing teams will spend at least 80 percent of their time visibly working on behalf of the public in their neighbourhood.
Essex Police (new window) are now delivering against this standard of service and all 43 police forces across England and Wales have signed up to deliver the pledge for their communities by the end of the year.
In addition to the national standard every neighbourhood will have a local pledge by which to hold their local teams to account. Laindon neighbourhood policing team and residents today unveiled theirs which includes contact details of their local team, how the teams will meet up with the public to discuss their concerns and the local priorities for action.
Home Secretary's statement
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said, 'The public are our strongest weapon in tackling crime and I passionately believe that empowering them to get a good deal through the Policing Pledge will play a powerful role in driving up the quality of policing for our citizens and in our communities.
'I congratulate Essex Police Force for being the first force to fully implement the pledge for their public. For the first time the public will know the minimum standard of service they should receive and I look forward to all forces making the same, visible commitment to their local communities.'
The pledge is part of a radical programme of reform set out in the Policing Green Paper earlier this year. Other reforms include removing all but one central target imposed on police forces — to increase public confidence that the police and other agencies are dealing with local crime and anti-social behaviour priorities.
The Policing Pledge also gives local people a stronger voice in setting local police priorities and the means to challenge their local force if they are not getting the service they expect.
Essex Police Chief's statement
Essex Police Chief Constable Roger Baker said, 'I am delighted Ms Smith has chosen to visit Essex to announce priorities which will deliver a service that puts the public at the heart of everything we do.
'We fully support the pledge which has a real focus on face to face contact, providing reassurance through positive and consistent feedback and ensuring the needs of the public are met. We in Essex are working hard to not only achieve and maintain these standards of service but we also aim to exceed public expectations where we can.'
All About Centre's statement
Manager of the All About Centre, Kim Hamber, said, 'The aim of West Basildon Children’s Centres has always been to work with partner organisations in order to provide a wide variety of support and services for the community.
'We were therefore delighted that the Home Secretary chose to sign the Policing Pledge from our centre reflecting our joint commitment to the community.'
Notes to editors
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Also today 60 areas across the country have signed up to become new neighbourhood crime and justice pioneer areas.
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Delivering a key recommendation of the Casey Review (new window), and supported by £5.6m, the new pioneer areas will each appoint a dedicated person - a Neighbourhood Crime and Justice (NCJ) Coordinator to ensure that Community Payback in the local community is visible and tough, that victims of crime are supported to reduce re-offending and that the public know the rights that the new national Policing Pledge gives them.
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Read the policing pledge (new window) on the Home Office police website.
New coordinators
The new coordinators will be a powerful force to take forward the radical vision set out in the Casey Review and Policing Green Paper to give the public a greater say in the way their streets are policed and how offenders are dealt with. The new coordinators will work to:
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let the public know their entitlement in the new Policing Pledge so that they know their rights, know who their neighbourhood policing team are, how they can hold them to account and the minimum level of service they should expect
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open up the Criminal Justice System so that there are clear and public consequences for criminals that the public get to know about, including more visible Community Payback
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ensure that services and support for victims and witnesses like separate seating arrangements at court are up to scratch.
