Police too busy to fight crime, says Walsall MP David Winnick

Nov 11 2008 by Jonathan Walker, Birmingham Mail

Police bogged down

POLICE have been burdened with so many responsibilities they don’t have time to do their jobs fighting crime and protecting the public, an MP has warned.

David Winnick (Lab Walsall North) called on the Home Office to let police get back to basics and concentrate on catching criminals.

The MP is a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, which has published a critical report of policing in the 21st Century, following a six-month inquiry.

Police were bogged down with a range of other activities, including victim support services, monitoring sex offenders and improving behaviour in schools, the committee warned.

And the inquiry heard evidence from one police officer who complained forces were expected to deal with “lost property” and “lost dogs” instead of focusing on fighting crime.

MPs also warned targets introduced by the Home Office had encouraged police to focus on minor offences, because it was often easier to secure a clear result than for more serious crimes. The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, told the inquiry officers were processing drivers for minor motoring offences, when previously they would have given them a telling-off instead, in order to meet targets. Mr Winnick said: “One of the important issues which came out of the inquiry is the need for the police to concentrate on the jobs for which they are appointed in the first place.”

He called for cuts in police paperwork, allowing officers to concentrate on “detecting crime and apprehending those responsible.”

The MP said better use could be made of Police Community Support Officers, the civilian uniformed officers who work with police.

Mr Winnick said: “People do have confidence in their police services, which is why they say they want to see them on the streets and in their neighbourhoods more often.”