This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8541963.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Put police on patrol, says Brown | Put police on patrol, says Brown |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown is to tell police forces to put more officers on the beat in an effort to increase the public's confidence in law and order. | Gordon Brown is to tell police forces to put more officers on the beat in an effort to increase the public's confidence in law and order. |
| The prime minister will say it is not "acceptable" to miss the government target of having neighbourhood PCs on patrol for at least 80% of the time. | The prime minister will say it is not "acceptable" to miss the government target of having neighbourhood PCs on patrol for at least 80% of the time. |
| Mr Brown will also tell councils and police forces not to cut budgets for front-line law enforcement. | |
| In a speech, he will dispute the Tories' claim that Britain is "broken". | In a speech, he will dispute the Tories' claim that Britain is "broken". |
| The prime minister's comments come as the main political parties step up their campaigning ahead of the general election, which is expected to be held on 6 May. | The prime minister's comments come as the main political parties step up their campaigning ahead of the general election, which is expected to be held on 6 May. |
| 'No reason' | 'No reason' |
| The government says Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) should spend at least 80% of their time on the beat, respond to non-emergency inquiries within 24 hours and hold monthly beat meetings. | The government says Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) should spend at least 80% of their time on the beat, respond to non-emergency inquiries within 24 hours and hold monthly beat meetings. |
| In a speech in Reading, Mr Brown will say: "At the pre-Budget report, we made the commitment to protect central government funding for front-line policing - because I know how important our police are to people, and so there will be no reason based on central government funding why police or PCSO numbers should fall. | |
| "But police funding in this country has always and rightly been part national, part local. | "But police funding in this country has always and rightly been part national, part local. |
| "So my challenge to local authorities and police authorities around the country is to match our commitment to protecting front-line policing - or else explain to their communities why they are not prepared to do so." | |
| Mr Brown will add: "You know, I love this country - and one of the reasons I'm so proud to serve it is because our community spirit has so often defined what it means to be British. | Mr Brown will add: "You know, I love this country - and one of the reasons I'm so proud to serve it is because our community spirit has so often defined what it means to be British. |
| "And I greatly resent those who seek to talk down what has been achieved in our communities. So we never accept the simplistic and defeatist argument that our communities are 'broken'." | "And I greatly resent those who seek to talk down what has been achieved in our communities. So we never accept the simplistic and defeatist argument that our communities are 'broken'." |
| Class sizes | Class sizes |
| In his speech to the Conservatives' spring conference on Sunday, party leader David Cameron said: "Some people say to me that I'm wrong to talk about the broken society, but I say when you've got the highest rate of family breakdown in Europe, when you've got one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy, when there are a million violent crimes committed every year, when there are 100 knife crimes committed every day, when a seven-year-old child starves to death in Birmingham, our second biggest city, and no-one does anything about it, which bit of broken society don't these people understand?" | |
| Speaking to head teachers on Monday, shadow schools' secretary Michael Gove will say a Tory government would, within days of taking office, introduce legislation to give schools greater freedom over the curriculum, staff and discipline. | Speaking to head teachers on Monday, shadow schools' secretary Michael Gove will say a Tory government would, within days of taking office, introduce legislation to give schools greater freedom over the curriculum, staff and discipline. |
| Meanwhile, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg will stress the importance of early years education in the home and pledge £2.5bn to help cut class sizes. | Meanwhile, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg will stress the importance of early years education in the home and pledge £2.5bn to help cut class sizes. |
| In a speech to the Salvation Army in London, he will call on all parents to provide the support their children need to thrive. | In a speech to the Salvation Army in London, he will call on all parents to provide the support their children need to thrive. |