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Smith pledges 'policing vision' Smith pledges 'policing vision'
(about 1 hour later)
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says she will publish a "strategic vision" for the future of police performance.Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says she will publish a "strategic vision" for the future of police performance.
Ms Smith told Police Superintendents that a green paper next year would help to reform the fight against crime.Ms Smith told Police Superintendents that a green paper next year would help to reform the fight against crime.
She indicated that controversial rules on how officers are required to record stops and searches may be simplified.She indicated that controversial rules on how officers are required to record stops and searches may be simplified.
Speaking at the Police Superintendents' Association conference in Warwickshire, she said she wanted "more control" in the hands of police officers.Speaking at the Police Superintendents' Association conference in Warwickshire, she said she wanted "more control" in the hands of police officers.
Earlier in the week, the Chief Inspector of Constabulary warned police officers were bogged down with bureaucracy and afraid to use their own judgement.
Sir Ronnie Flanagan's full report into policing is expected in the New Year - and will be followed by a Home Office green paper.
Jacqui Smith: Green paper in New Year
Ms Smith told conference delegates modernising would mean "more control to you, on the issues that matter to the people living in your communities."
"We all see the need for wider reform," said the home secretary. "If the service is to truly modernise and meet the challenges we all recognise, we need to work together towards a more strategic vision for policing.
"This paper will give a structure and coherence to the reforms underway now and in the future - reforms that will, with your help, deliver an effective and responsive service in which we can all have confidence.
"You, the superintendents and chief superintendents, will play a vital role in reforming the service. Perhaps more than anyone, you know what your managers want, what your officers and staff need and what the public expects."
She said that key to public confidence was adapting policing to how people were now living their lives and ensuring that police officers were where people needed them.
She cited one example from Great Yarmouth where police had responded to a fall in attendance at drop-in sessions by moving the venue to a local supermarket.
Red tape warning
In his interim report, Sir Ronnie said some forces would "over-record and under-deliver" for fear of missing something or being criticised.
We risk diverting officers' priorities to recording crimes rather than getting out on the streets solving them and preventing them Sir Ronnie Flanagan Police 'bogged down by red tape'
But he also praised some reforms including focusing officers on neighbourhood policing.
Ms Smith told police superintendents that she accepted Sir Ronnie's recommendations that would cut red tape and put power in the hands of officers.
She singled out one recommendation on how case files are managed which would save 400,000 hours - the equivalent of 200 extra officers.
Turning to stop and search or account powers, Ms Smith said she accepted there needed to be a rethink on monitoring obligations.
Since April 2005 all officers have been told to record all stops, one of the recommendations from the Macpherson inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Many officers oppose the measure, with one force telling Sir Ronnie's review that it takes an average of 25 minutes to complete a stop form.
"I accept the need to approach the issue sensitively," she told the conference. "We know that the requirements [to record stops in full] emerged from Macpherson but many will agree that 25 minutes per stop seems disproportionate."