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Shabana Mahmood will set out her overhaul of policing today, aiming to tackle “unpunished” everyday crime and get officers from their desks to the streets.
The home secretary is expected to make a statement to MPs this afternoon on her proposals, including the previously announced creation of a new National Police Service (NPS) to tackle major crimes, and cutting the number of police forces.
She is also set to pledge to cut “red tape” and “unnecessary admin” that prevent officers from spending more time on the beat, and to change how staffing levels are funded.
Under the proposals, police forces will also be required to respond to emergency calls in urban areas within 15 minutes, and within 20 minutes in rural areas.
While most forces have targets to respond in this time, the Home Office said there is currently no way to hold them to this standard.
“People are reporting crimes and then waiting hours or even days for a response,” Ms Mahmood said in a statement. “By the time the police arrive, the perpetrators and witnesses are long gone.”
“I will restore neighbourhood policing and scale up patrols in communities to catch criminals and cut crime,” she added.
Analysis: Time will tell if shake-up will leave people feeling better protected
Other announcements over the weekend included a £7m investment in tackling shoplifting, including £5m for Operational Opal – a national intelligence sharing unit targeting shoplifting gangs.
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