04/11/2008

Essex Police Congratulated For Delivering First Policing Pledge

Sixty areas across the country have signed up to become new neighbourhood crime and justice pioneer areas, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced today.

The Home Secretary also congratulated Essex on being the first police force to deliver the new national Policing Pledge.

Delivering a key recommendation of the Casey Review, and supported by £5.6 million, the new pioneer areas will each appoint a dedicated person - a Neighbourhood Crime and Justice (NCJ) Co-ordinator to ensure that Community Payback in the local community is visible and tough, that victims of crime are supported to reduce re-offending and that the public know the rights that the new national Policing Pledge gives them.

The new coordinators will be a powerful force to take forward the radical vision set out in the Casey Review and Policing Green Paper to give the public a greater say in the way their streets are policed and how offenders are dealt with.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "The public have told us what they want from policing and the justice system - services that listen and act on their priorities. But sometimes the criminal justice system can feel remote and appear more interested in supporting offenders than punishing them or protecting communities.

"We are determined to take action on this across Government."

Also today, the Home Secretary and the Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Adviser, Louise Casey, visited Essex Police Force to congratulate them on being the first in the country to publicly meet the national standards and commitments in the national Policing Pledge.

Both initiatives are in direct response to the Casey Review which heard from over 10,000 members of the public about what they want from the police and the criminal justice system.

(JM)

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