New figures published today reveal the surge in neighbourhood policing both here in Cambridgeshire and across the country, with an extra 37 police officers and PCSOs this year in Cambridgeshire, part of an additional 3,123 across England and Wales.
These figures reveal more than 3,000 police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) have been put into neighbourhood roles in less than a year – 2 months ahead of schedule.
After years of savage cuts to the police force in Cambridgeshire under the Tories and the Tory/Lib Dem coalition, this significant increase in police numbers in such a short time is welcome and is already helping Cambridgeshire Constabulary to fight crime more effectively.
The increase in neighbourhood officers is already delivering results. The Home Office’s Winter of Action scheme across December and January saw almost 18,000 arrests across more than 600 towns and cities as police presence and patrols were ramped up.
Of these, over 5,000 were for retail crime, over 1,000 for sexual offences, almost 1,000 for street crime, and over 10,000 – more than half – were for violent assault.
South Cambs Labour’s community spokesperson and candidate for Fen Ditton & Fulbourn in the forthcoming District Council elections, Tim Andrews said,
“People in Cambridgeshire want to see more neighbourhood policing – and that’s exactly what Labour is delivering. There are now 37 more police and PCSOs in neighbourhood roles across Cambridgeshire Constabulary. And that’s just the start – across the country Labour will deliver 13,000 more neighbourhood police by the end of this parliament.
“Here in Cambridgeshire, residents have been affected significantly for years by antisocial behaviour, rural crime including theft of costly farm equipment and hare coursing, retail crime, assault and sexual offences.
“I know people in Cambridgeshire are hungry for change – and I know that change can’t come soon enough. But across the country and here in Cambridgeshire we are starting to see things getting better – more neighbourhood police, lower NHS waiting lists, more rights at work and for renters and the minimum wage and pensions going up. Change has begun.”
Crime and Policing Minister, Sarah Jones, said:
“Neighbourhood policing was hollowed out under the previous government. Communities were left to face an epidemic of everyday crime that all too often seemed to go unpunished.
“To make matters worse, too many officers have been stuck behind desks in support roles when we need them out on our streets.
“We’re delivering the biggest reforms to policing in over 200 years and, crucially, putting 13,000 more neighbourhood officers where they belong – on the beat and fighting crime in our communities. The government will halve knife crime within a decade, saving lives and protecting communities.”
The early delivery of additional neighbourhood officers marks a major milestone in meeting the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which will ultimately see 13,000 additional neighbourhood personnel by the end of this parliament – an increase of more than 75%.
The guarantee is putting officers back on the beat, tackling the issues that matter most to their local communities. Arrests already rose by 5% last year, as the renewed focus on neighbourhood policing delivers real results.
All police forces have now also published bespoke antisocial behaviour action plans – another key commitment of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee – setting out how they intend to continue tackling antisocial behaviour (ASB) in their communities. The plans were published by each force’s designated antisocial behaviour lead, roles that were established last year as part of the guarantee.