Home Secretary Priti Patel has demanded that British police forces must slash crime and deliver safer streets in the United Kingdom, in exchange the police forces up and down the nation will see more officers and funding to tackling crime and the public will no longer accept any “excuses”.
During a speech in London, the Home Secretary said that cutting crime was “non-negotiable” and there must be “no weak spots” left unchecked in the effort to reduce crime in the United Kingdom.
Addressing the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners joint summit Ms Patel warned that she expected good results in addressing crime from the Governments pledge to fund an extra 20,000 more police officers on the beat over the next three years.
The Home Secretary told the audience that they were being set “quite a challenge to reduce murder, serious violence and neighbourhood crime”, saying: “That is an ambitious list, but it is no more than the public expects.”
She added: “We need to pull out all the stops to deliver the decline in crime that people want to see. There must be no weak spots.
“These outcomes will be non-negotiable and I will be unapologetic about holding you to account.
“Together we can lengthen the long arm of the law to ensure no criminals can escape – and, importantly, the public can have the trust in policing that you all deserve.”
Ms Patel has announced an additional £41.5 million of funding for forces in 18 areas of the country worst affected by serious violence, she also launched an eight-week consultation on plans to enshrine a Police Covenant in law.
The plans first mentioned in the Conservative Party’s 2019 general election manifesto, pledges to back the rights of serving or ex-police officers, staff and their families, recognise the responsibility and risks officers take, and introduce a code of ethics.
Ms Patel said: “Crime will not go away overnight” and the police deserve “full respect” for the “incredible job” they do, describing the covenant as a “commitment” to put officers first.
She added: “I will also be unafraid to challenge you to do more.
“The public deserve the freedom to live their lives without fear of violent criminals, terrorists and drug dealers,
“That’s why I’ve made it my priority to restore public confidence in our criminal justice system.”
The National Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, John Apter welcomed the plans for the covenant and said: “Policing is a dangerous and unpredictable job and it’s essential that there is something in place that ensures that police officers, staff, retired colleagues and their families receive the support they deserve.
“This consultation is an opportunity to help shape what a Police Covenant will look like. This is something I feel extremely passionate about and it’s great to see this taking a step closer to becoming a reality.”
Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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