Plans to free local police forces from the grip of central government bureaucracy and targets have been welcomed by Liberal Democrats in Hastings & Rye.
The proposals have been launched by Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne MP and will be debated at the party’s conference in Bournemouth next week.
Nick Perry, Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner, who will be attending the Lib Dem Conference, said that police officers would be freed to spend more time policing communities rather than chasing government targets.
“Given recent events in Hastings, it is imperative that the police are as free as possible to police our local communities,” said Nick.
“I know from my own job how stretched police colleagues can be, and constant interference and targets from Whitehall do little to catch criminals and deter crime. Sussex police are far better placed than a government minister in Whitehall to decide what the local priorities are.
“The proposals also call for police authorities to be elected by local people, rather than appointed by ministers. That will mean policing priorities are under the control of local people.”
Other proposals to be debated by the Liberal Democrats include appointing 10,000 extra police officers, paid for by scrapping the expensive and bureaucratic National Identity Card scheme.
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