§ 22. Mr. Jim Cunningham (Coventry, South)What progress police forces are making in reducing waste and inefficiency. [80973]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Paul Boateng)Improving police efficiency and effectiveness are key Government priorities. It is vital that the public get the best possible value from the money spent on policing. Our comprehensive spending review set the police a target of 2 per cent. year-on-year efficiency gains. We expect those targets to be met and the resources so released to help improve delivery of national and local front-line policing priorities.
§ Mr. CunninghamI know that the police are mainly responsible for operational matters, but will the Minister talk to the West Midlands police, because there is concern in the Styvechle area about the Fletchamstead highway police station, whose hours are being reduced? I am sure that he knows that there have been several recent incidents in that area.
§ Mr. BoatengI thank my hon. Friend for drawing that to my attention. I have every confidence in the capacity of the chief constable to meet the operational needs of the local community. He is doing a good job. We are grateful to my hon. Friend for his support for the local police. We will continue to support him and the police in Coventry in doing their job of reducing and preventing crime.