High visibility policing is key to effective neighbourhood policing. I intend to make sure that police officers and staff will be more visible to actively deter criminals, prevent crime and provide more reassurance to residents. I want our officers to be out and about more, and sitting in offices less.
I will:
- Extend the Uppingham pilot and open up more police offices to the public by appointment. Over the next two years all police premises will be inspected for suitability and all that can be converted in this way will be.
- Place traditional “Mercia” blue police lantern to at every police station and office open to the public.
- Work with shopping centres, local authorities and others to introduce a Police Phone Box fit for the 21st Century. These will serve as a base for police officers, PCSOs, night marshals and local authority staff in busy areas as well as providing a base for CCTV and offer a communication link for the public to contact the police. The “Tardis” is returning to Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
- Free up officer time by launching a review of our paperwork systems to ensure that only information that is needed is recorded. I will lobby central government to cut down on the demands they make on our officers’ time filling in forms and paperwork of no obvious use.
- Ensure that the vehicle fleet is properly maintained with minimal backlogs for servicing. I will invest in more of the bikes and e-bikes that are currently in short supply and look at other new types of vehicle to help our neighbourhood patrols cover more ground while remaining highly visible.
- Undertake an assessment of the electric and hybrid vehicles being trialled to discover to which roles these vehicles are best suited, and adapt the purchasing policy accordingly.
- Consider the merit of launching a new team equipped with off-road motorbikes, quad bikes or similar to tackle antisocial behaviour and criminality in hard to reach areas.
- Continue to encourage the use of traditional headgear that makes an officer instantly recognisable in the street, together with new-style protective jackets that more closely resemble the public’s view of a police officer.
- Call on the Chief Constable to ensure PCSO recruits are hired for the right reasons and ban transfer into the ranks of warranted officers in the first three years of service.
- Work with the Chief to establish a dedicated career path for those for all our PCSO.
- Maintain the number of PCSOs out on our streets at 175.
- Advocate for PCSOs to be given the training and resources needed to issue criminal behaviour orders, court injunctions and restorative justice.
- Establish a dedicated fund to pay for crime prevention schemes suggested by PCSOs.
