Neighbourhood Policing — 15 Oct 2003 at 18:50

I beg to move,

That this House welcomes the emerging political and professional consensus about the need to increase the level and effectiveness of neighbourhood policing in Britain in order to restore the confidence of the public but regrets that the Government is seeking to achieve this through a burdensome and ineffective bureaucracy; and urges the Government instead to return power to decentralised local policing and to make local policing more accountable to local people.

I beg to move, To leave out from "House" to the end of the Question, and to add instead thereof:

"welcomes the Government's investment in policing which has resulted in 136,386 officers by the end of August 2003, an increase of more than 4,000 since December 2002 and the highest level ever; notes that there are now more than 1,900 Community Support Officers and record numbers of police staff assisting police officers in their work; further notes the priority given by the Government to reducing bureaucracy to enable officers to concentrate on frontline duties; and welcomes the Government's commitment to further reform to improve accountability and engagement between the police and the communities they serve."

Question put accordingly, That the original words stand part of the Question:-

The House divided: Ayes 183, Noes 319.

Debate in Parliament | Historical Hansard | Source |