12/09/2007

Police Snared In Red Tape

The Chief Inspector of Constabulary has reported that police forces in England and Wales are caught up in a maze of red tape.

Sir Ronnie Flanagan in his 'Review of Policing' has said that police forces would continue to "over-record and under-deliver" as officers were concerned about criticism of their performance and weighed down by bureaucracy.

Sir Ronnie urged that the excess bureaucracy must be curtailed in order to increase police time spent on detecting crimes.

He praised Neighbourhood Policing strategies in England and Wales, which he said were delivering results.

Sir Ronnie identified what he described as four specific "workstreams" that needed attention: ‘Reducing Bureaucracy’; ‘Mainstreaming Neighbourhood Policing’; ‘Making Most Effective Use of Resources’; and ‘Enhancing Local Accountability’.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said that she accepted that a reduction in red tape was required and that such changes would increase police efficiency and improve their crime fighting capability.

The full report from Sir Ronnie is expected to be delivered early next year.

(SP/KMcA)

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