This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22333662
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Police should focus on crime prevention 'not catching criminals' | Police should focus on crime prevention 'not catching criminals' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police should focus more on preventing crime than catching criminals, the new chief inspector of constabulary for England and Wales is to say. | Police should focus more on preventing crime than catching criminals, the new chief inspector of constabulary for England and Wales is to say. |
| Tom Winsor will also emphasise the importance of technology in cutting crime, in a speech to the Royal United Services Institute. | Tom Winsor will also emphasise the importance of technology in cutting crime, in a speech to the Royal United Services Institute. |
| He will tell the security think-tank a greater focus on targeting would-be offenders and potential crime hotspots will save money and mean fewer victims. | He will tell the security think-tank a greater focus on targeting would-be offenders and potential crime hotspots will save money and mean fewer victims. |
| Mr Winsor took up the role last year. | Mr Winsor took up the role last year. |
| His speech comes as the think-tank Policy Exchange recommends introducing a modern version of the "Tardis" police box - made famous by Dr Who - to allow people to report crimes, provide witness statements and access information. | His speech comes as the think-tank Policy Exchange recommends introducing a modern version of the "Tardis" police box - made famous by Dr Who - to allow people to report crimes, provide witness statements and access information. |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says Mr Winsor has spent much of his first six months in the post listening to the views of officers. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says Mr Winsor has spent much of his first six months in the post listening to the views of officers. |
| "Now he's ready to set out his ideas," our correspondent says. | "Now he's ready to set out his ideas," our correspondent says. |
| Controversial choice | Controversial choice |
| A lawyer and former rail regulator - but without experience of serving in the police - Mr Winsor was a controversial choice to be chief inspector of constabulary. | A lawyer and former rail regulator - but without experience of serving in the police - Mr Winsor was a controversial choice to be chief inspector of constabulary. |
| In March last year, he published a report for the government on the police service which recommended far-reaching reforms in the widest-ranging review of police pay and conditions in more than 30 years. | In March last year, he published a report for the government on the police service which recommended far-reaching reforms in the widest-ranging review of police pay and conditions in more than 30 years. |
| Recommendations in the report included fast-tracking recruits to inspector level within three years and opening up chief constable roles to senior officers from countries such as Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand. | Recommendations in the report included fast-tracking recruits to inspector level within three years and opening up chief constable roles to senior officers from countries such as Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand. |
| He also advised a cut in the starting salary for police constables in England and Wales, down to £19,000 - a reduction of £4,000. | He also advised a cut in the starting salary for police constables in England and Wales, down to £19,000 - a reduction of £4,000. |
| In his first major speech since taking up the post, he will call for a return to the police's basic mission, as devised by the founder of the service, Robert Peel, to prevent crime and disorder. | In his first major speech since taking up the post, he will call for a return to the police's basic mission, as devised by the founder of the service, Robert Peel, to prevent crime and disorder. |
| Mr Winsor believes too many policemen and women think their principal job is to catch criminals. | |
| Meanwhile, Policy Exchange's Rebooting the PC Report recommends the introduction of modern versions of police boxes in which people could "report crime, provide witness statements, discuss concerns and access information". | Meanwhile, Policy Exchange's Rebooting the PC Report recommends the introduction of modern versions of police boxes in which people could "report crime, provide witness statements, discuss concerns and access information". |
| "These would be technologically-enabled police contact points featuring two-way audio-visual technology so that members of the public could communicate directly with police staff," the report said. | "These would be technologically-enabled police contact points featuring two-way audio-visual technology so that members of the public could communicate directly with police staff," the report said. |
| Public access | Public access |
| The report also says that, faced with budget cuts, police chiefs must avoid putting "buildings before bobbies" and should replace police stations with "cops in shops". | The report also says that, faced with budget cuts, police chiefs must avoid putting "buildings before bobbies" and should replace police stations with "cops in shops". |
| And it also cited "a dramatic decline" in station front counter use, saying forces should "manage the police estate in a smarter fashion". | And it also cited "a dramatic decline" in station front counter use, saying forces should "manage the police estate in a smarter fashion". |
| It quoted Met Police figures which show the number of people reporting crime at front counters in London fell by more than 100,000 between 2006-07 and 2011-12. | It quoted Met Police figures which show the number of people reporting crime at front counters in London fell by more than 100,000 between 2006-07 and 2011-12. |
| A Home Office spokesman said decisions about the most effective use of resources "including the number, location and operating hours of police stations are a matter for chief constables and police and crime commissioners". | A Home Office spokesman said decisions about the most effective use of resources "including the number, location and operating hours of police stations are a matter for chief constables and police and crime commissioners". |
| The Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents rank-and file officers, said a fall in the use of front counters had been "happening around the country for many years". | The Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents rank-and file officers, said a fall in the use of front counters had been "happening around the country for many years". |
| But its vice-chairman Steve White said police stations "are accessible to the public, all day and night, something which is not provided by local shops and businesses". | But its vice-chairman Steve White said police stations "are accessible to the public, all day and night, something which is not provided by local shops and businesses". |
| The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said that "in an age of austerity, relentlessly challenging established practice to improve local policing is more important than ever". | The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said that "in an age of austerity, relentlessly challenging established practice to improve local policing is more important than ever". |
| "We need to think differently to equip policing for the years ahead, identifying and sharing what helps - be it 'cop shops', public contact booths or Special Constables and volunteers complementing the way we patrol communities," Acpo's Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Donald said. | "We need to think differently to equip policing for the years ahead, identifying and sharing what helps - be it 'cop shops', public contact booths or Special Constables and volunteers complementing the way we patrol communities," Acpo's Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Donald said. |