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Search for press releasesGiving Luton residents a stronger voice on local crime priorities
17 November 2008
The positive impact of neighbourhood policing and the growing involvement of communities in the fight against crime were both witnessed first-hand by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith in a visit today.
Visiting the Hightown area of Luton, the Home Secretary congratulated the neighbourhood policing team for its work with the local community to reduce crime.
Using technology to stop crime
The Home Secretary was shown a demonstration of the car accessory protection scheme (CAPS) project, in which police community support officers fit anti-theft screws to number plates in order to ensure that car number plates cannot be tampered with if a car is stolen.
She also joined a meeting of the local residents and local council members to discuss local crime reduction methods. Meetings like these give the public the chance to tell their local police what they expect from them.
Luton police will implement the policing pledge (new window) by the end of the year. This will give local people a stronger voice in setting local police priorities and the means to challenge their local force if they are not getting they service they expect.
The pledge
For the first time, the pledge gives the public a clear minimum standard of service,
including:
- the police to respond immediately to emergencies – attending within 15 minutes and much sooner if possible – and the police to attend within an hour in response to calls about agreed neighbourhood priorities where police attendance is required
- 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
- that neighbourhood policing teams will spend at least 80% of their time visibly working on behalf of the public in their neighbourhood.
Home Secretary's statement
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said, 'I am determined to see a police force that delivers for the public. The community engagement undertaken by neighbourhood policing teams such as this one in Luton builds confidence and reassurance in communities and forges valuable relationships with local people.
'The public are our best weapon in fighting crime. I would encourage everyone to get to know their local neighbourhood policing team. Local people can then work with the police to decide the local crime and anti-social behaviour priorities for action in their neighbourhood. These will be enshrined in the local part of the Policing Pledge by the end of the year.'
Progress across the board
The Policing Green Paper (new window), published earlier this year, removed all but one central target imposed on police forces — to increase public confidence that the police and other agencies are tackling local crime and anti-social behaviour priorities.
That means now Luton’s main focus will be on working closely with local communities to tackle the issues that really matter to them.
The Home Secretary also visited Jamia Masjid Ghousia Central Mosque, where she met young people involved in the 'Ambassadors for Islam' project.
As part of the government’s Prevent policy, the project works with a group of young Muslims to build understanding and arm them with the theological arguments to counter violent extremist ideologies.
It works to develop their role as citizens, leaders and positive role models in order to become ambassadors for Islam and assert their British identity.
