Free police in Ashfield from government bureaucracy

1.54.22pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 6th Sep 2008

PLANS to free local police forces from the grip of central government bureaucracy and targets have been welcomed by Liberal Democrats in Ashfield.

The proposals have been launched by Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne and will be debated at the party's conference in Bournemouth in September.

Cllr Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council, said that police officers would be freed to spend more time policing communities rather than chasing government targets.

"The police have to be free to police our local communities," said Jason Zadrozny. "Constant interference and targets from Whitehall do little to catch criminals and deter crime. Ashfield police are far better placed than a government minister in Whitehall to decide what the local priorities are.

"The proposals also call for police authorities to be elected by local people, rather than appointed by ministers. That will mean policing priorities are under the control of local people."

Other proposals to be debated by the Liberal Democrats include appointing 10,000 extra police officers, paid for by scrapping the expensive and bureaucratic National Identity Card scheme.