§ Mr. LansleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons he has not retained visible policing as a key policy objective. [52795]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Government are committed to the effective use of police resources to cut crime and to keep the peace. Our major reforms, set out in the Crime and106W Disorder Bill [Lords], will create a new and dynamic partnership, led by the police and the local authority, to cut crime and disorder locally. Police activity can help to promote community safety and reassure the public. However, we also believe that high visibility policing, which is not targeted or intelligence-led, can lead to an inefficient deployment of resources.
In setting the national objectives for the police for 1998–99, the Home Secretary decided to reflect the Government's top law and order priorities of tackling youth crime and drug-related crime and reducing local problems of crime and disorder through a partnership approach. Tackling crime and disorder has a crucial role to play in promoting community safety and reassuring the public. Where appropriate, high visibility policing will form part of the response to local crime and disorder problems.
Performance indicators for the police published by the Audit Commission and reported on by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, include public satisfaction with the perceived level of foot and mobile patrol.